President Bola Ahmed Tinubu touched down in Brasília on Monday, kicking off a historic state visit that is set to redefine Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic ties with Brazil.
The Nigerian leader arrived at the Brasília Air Base to a warm reception from top Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria. He was accompanied by a strong Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, alongside cabinet ministers, agency chiefs, and prominent private sector leaders.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, the visit marks a decisive step in deepening bilateral relations between Africa’s largest economy and Latin America’s most powerful nation. He confirmed that President Tinubu will be accorded full military honors at the Planalto Palace, where he is scheduled to hold private talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Both leaders are expected to oversee the signing of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering trade, agriculture, defense, and technology. A joint press conference will follow, along with expanded discussions between senior officials of both countries.
Read also:
Tinubu’s trip comes on the back of Nigeria’s increased global engagement under his leadership. He has attended several high-profile international summits, including the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in November 2024, both hosted in Brazil.
Nigeria and Brazil, whose diplomatic ties date back to the 1960s, have stepped up cooperation in recent years, especially in agriculture and food security. Notable initiatives include the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme designed to boost mechanized farming in Nigeria, and a $2.5 billion investment by Brazilian food giant JBS aimed at driving job creation and food processing capacity in West Africa’s biggest market.
The ongoing state visit is expected to open fresh chapters in Nigeria-Brazil relations, positioning both nations as strategic partners in global trade, energy development, and South-South cooperation.
ADVERTISEMENT
