Tinubu Arrives in Brazil for State Visit to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Brasília, Brazil, for a state visit aimed at strengthening the long-standing diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Brazil. The President, who flew in from Los Angeles, was received by senior Brazilian government officials at the Brasília Air Base.
Among the officials who welcomed him were 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, Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was also present at the reception.
Later, a delegation of Nigerian ministers, government agency heads, and private sector leaders who are part of the President’s entourage welcomed him to his hotel. They are scheduled to participate in a series of bilateral talks and sign new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit.
The official welcoming ceremony, complete with full military honors, is scheduled for later today at the Planalto Palace. Following the ceremony, President Tinubu will hold a private meeting with the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This will be followed by expanded bilateral meetings with senior officials from both governments.
The two leaders are expected to witness the signing of several MoUs and will address a joint press conference afterward.
The President’s packed schedule also includes meetings with the President of the Brazilian Senate, 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.
A History of Strong Relations
Nigeria and Brazil have enjoyed a deep and cordial relationship since the early 1960s. Brazil was the only Latin American country to attend Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960, and Nigeria formally established its embassy in Brazil in 1966.
In recent years, high-level engagements have further solidified these ties. President Tinubu has visited Brazil twice since his inauguration in 2023, attending the G20 Summit in November 2024 and the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in July 2025. Reciprocal visits by Brazilian officials, including Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, have also taken place.
The two nations share a “Mechanism for Strategic Dialogue” established in 2013 to foster cooperation in key sectors like agriculture, trade, defense, energy, and education. The second session of this dialogue, held in Abuja in June 2025, resulted in the signing of seven new MoUs.
Brazil is also a significant partner in Nigeria’s food security initiatives. A notable $2.5 billion investment by JBS, a Brazilian company, was signed during President Tinubu’s participation at the 2024 G20 Summit. This project aims to boost local food production and create jobs for Nigerian youth. Additionally, the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Programme (GIP) is underway to supply 10,000 tractors and 50,000 farm equipment units for assembly in Nigeria.
