By Ismaeel Aleem
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Brasília, Brazil, on Monday to commence a state visit aimed at deepening Nigeria-Brazil relations. Arriving from Los Angeles, United States, he was warmly received at the Brasília Air Base by senior Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s Ambassador to Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was also present.
At his hotel, President Tinubu was welcomed by Nigerian ministers, heads of government agencies, and private sector representatives, who will participate in bilateral talks and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Tinubu, Brazil to hold private meeting
On Monday, an official welcome ceremony with full military honours will take place at the Planalto Palace, where Presidents Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will hold a private meeting, followed by expanded bilateral discussions. The leaders will oversee the signing of MoUs and address a joint press conference.
President Tinubu’s itinerary includes meetings with the President of the Brazilian Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court at the National Congress. He will also attend the Nigeria-Brazil Business Forum to promote economic collaboration.
Nigeria and Brazil share a robust diplomatic history since the 1960s, with Brazil notably participating in Nigeria’s 1960 independence celebrations. Since President Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, high-level engagements have strengthened ties, including his attendance at the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in November 2024. The Second Session of the Mechanism for Strategic Dialogue in Abuja (June 2025) resulted in seven MoUs, covering defence, energy, tourism, and counternarcotics.
Brazil is a key partner in Nigeria’s food security initiatives, with a $2.5 billion JBS investment aimed at enhancing sustainable supply chains, as well as the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme, which will supply tractors and farm equipment. These efforts aim to boost local production and create jobs for Nigerian youth, further solidifying the strategic partnership.
