By Atoyebi Nike
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday arrived in Brasília to begin a state visit focused on strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic ties with Brazil.
He was received at the Brasília Air Base by senior Brazilian officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s ambassador to Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, also welcomed the President.
According to the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the official welcome ceremony, complete with full military honours, will be held at the Planalto Palace. Tinubu will then meet privately with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, followed by expanded bilateral talks.
Both leaders are expected to oversee the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and later hold a joint press conference. The Nigerian delegation comprising ministers, heads of agencies, and private sector representatives will also participate in a series of bilateral sessions.
The visit builds on Nigeria-Brazil engagements since Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, including his participation in the BRICS Summit in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in November 2024. Recent agreements between the two nations have focused on agriculture and defence, with projects such as the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme and a $2.5 billion JBS investment aimed at boosting food security and creating jobs in Nigeria.
