President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Brazil, pledging to eliminate bureaucratic delays and fast-track agreements covering agriculture, trade, aviation, energy transition, and other critical sectors.
Tinubu gave this assurance during a high-level meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the historic Copacabana Forte, as part of ongoing efforts to deepen cooperation between the two nations.
According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Tinubu emphasized that the ongoing economic reforms in Nigeria will enhance global competitiveness—particularly in agriculture, where Nigeria enjoys a natural advantage.
“We are ready for strong partnerships and immediate action to stimulate food production,” Tinubu said, noting that bureaucratic obstacles had slowed progress in agricultural transformation.
He added that Nigeria is keen to tap into Brazil’s globally renowned expertise in agricultural research and food production.
Key areas of focus include livestock development, poultry, fisheries, and the blue economy, which Tinubu described as holding “long-term partnership potential.”
Tinubu also highlighted the role of state governments (subnationals) in supporting agricultural productivity, food sovereignty, and job creation.
He assured that all agreements between Nigeria and Brazil will be streamlined and implemented without delay.
On his part, President da Silva pledged to update and regularize existing memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Nigeria.
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He also stressed the need to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks and welcomed collaboration between Brazil’s research institutions and Nigeria in advancing livestock farming.
“Brazil is committed to building a productive partnership with Nigeria, and all pending agreements will be finalized when President Tinubu visits again,” Silva said.
Key Nigerian officials present at the meeting included Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, who reiterated Tinubu’s stance on food security and emphasized Nigeria’s competitive edge in fertilizer production.
Also speaking, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, identified three priority areas for collaboration: animal health and disease control, sanitary services, and research on genetic breeding.
The meeting also had in attendance governors from several Nigerian states: Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)—all of whom pledged support for the federal government’s agricultural transformation plan.
Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, also joined the delegation, underscoring the strategic significance of the bilateral engagement.
The meeting builds on the Nigeria-Brazil initiative launched in May to finalize a long-stalled bilateral air service agreement (BASA), which aims to establish direct flights between both countries and further enhance trade and tourism.