President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Brasília, Brazil, marking the commencement of a significant state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the South American nation.
The President, who travelled from Los Angeles in the United States, was formally received at the Brasília Air Base by senior Brazilian government officials. The welcoming delegation included Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was also present to receive the President upon his arrival.
Following his arrival, President Tinubu was welcomed at his hotel by other ministers, heads of key government agencies, and private sector representatives who are set to participate in a series of high-level bilateral talks and memoranda of understanding signings.
The official welcoming ceremony, featuring full military honours, is scheduled to take place at the Planalto Palace.
There, President Tinubu will meet with the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for discussions followed by expanded bilateral meetings involving senior officials from both governments. The leaders are expected to witness the signing of several memoranda of understanding and will subsequently address a joint press conference.
During his stay, the President’s itinerary includes meetings with the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court. He will also participate in the Nigeria-Brazil Business Forum as part of a packed schedule in Brasília.
This visit underscores the deep and longstanding diplomatic relationship between both countries, which dates back to the early 1960s. Nigeria formally established its embassy in Brazil in 1966, and Brazil was the only Latin American nation to participate in Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960.
The visit follows a series of high-level engagements since President Tinubu’s inauguration, including his attendance at the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in Brazil in November 2024.
These engagements reflect a mutual commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas such as agriculture, trade, defence, and energy, with significant projects like the $2.5 billion JBS investment in food security and the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme already underway.
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cc: Daily Trust NG
