First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has announced plans to open a representative office in Lagos, marking its formal entry into Nigeria as part of a broader sub-Saharan Africa expansion strategy.

The disclosure was made on Monday at the maiden Investopia Africa event held in Lagos by the bank’s Group Head of Wholesale Banking, Mr Martin Tricaud.

Tricaud said the move followed extensive internal review and was driven by the bank’s conviction that Africa represents one of the world’s strongest growth frontiers, with Nigeria offering the most compelling entry point into sub-Saharan Africa.

“We have a presence in 21 countries today, and very soon it will be 22, with Nigeria,” he said.

“This decision is the outcome of long reflection and study. We already have a presence in Egypt and Libya, but there was an obvious gap in our geographical footprint.”

According to him, Africa’s economic growth trajectory and demographic expansion were central to the decision.

“Africa is really the future of the world economy. The continent is growing between six and eight per cent in GDP annually, with a population of 1.4 billion today, expected to reach nearly two billion in the coming decades. The opportunity is enormous,” Tricaud noted.

He explained that after reviewing several options, the bank concluded that Nigeria and Lagos in particular offers the strongest platform for establishing its first sub-Saharan African presence.

“We will open a representative office in Lagos. Hopefully, that will happen this month or next, or very, very soon,” he said.

Speaking during a panel session that included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, Tricaud said the Lagos office would also serve as a regional hub for West Africa, reflecting the city’s growing role as a financial and commercial centre.

“This will not only develop our business in Nigeria but also cover the entire West African region. In our view, Lagos plays a critical regional financial role,” he added.

The banker highlighted United Arab Emirates–Nigeria investment ties, particularly in energy and infrastructure, noting that FAB has already built strong relationships in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

“The UAE is very strong in both conventional and renewable energy, so it was natural for us to start there. Nigeria is a major oil and gas country, and we have done good business with both public and private sector players,” he said.

He added that the bank recently partnered with Afreximbank to provide $1.126 billion in financing for Phase 1, Section 2 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, describing the project as a major signal of Nigeria’s capacity to attract international capital.

“We were delighted to work closely with the Ministry of Finance, HITECH and the Chagoury Group on the Coastal Road project. I visited the site a few months ago and was impressed by the speed of construction and the potential impact on the local economy,” Tricaud said.

He further noted that the bank mobilises capital through distribution and syndication, working with partners such as the Islamic Development Bank, adding that infrastructure investment in Nigeria is only just beginning.

“There will be much more to come, particularly in infrastructure roads, highways and related projects,” he said.