President Bola Tinubu arrived in Brasília, Brazil, on Monday, with a call for renewed diplomatic and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the South American country.
In a post via his official X handle on Monday, the President described his meeting with Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a renewal of the “historic relationship” between both nations.
The Nigerian leader expressed his readiness to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy, trade, and culture with the Brazilian leader and the government.
“Today’s engagement marks the renewal of the historic relationship between Nigeria and Brazil.
“I look forward to working with President Lula to deepen cooperation in agriculture, energy, trade, and culture, towards building a future of shared prosperity across the Atlantic,” Tinubu said.
The Nigerian leader, who flew in from Los Angeles, United States, was received at the Brasília Air Base by senior Brazilian government officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, also joined in receiving the President.
Other ministers, heads of key government agencies, and private sector leaders later welcomed Tinubu to his hotel, ahead of a series of bilateral talks and the signing of memoranda of understanding.
An official welcoming ceremony, with full military honours, is underway at the Planalto Palace, followed by a visit to the leader of Brazil’s National Congress.