President Bola Tinubu has revealed the details of his recent meeting with Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during which important decisions were made to strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Brazil. The meeting took place on Saturday during the ongoing African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as confirmed in a post shared by President Tinubu on his verified social media handle.
During their discussion, President Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart explored various avenues to enhance trade, commercial, and cultural relations between their respective nations. They delved into opportunities such as boosting trade volumes, investing in agriculture and aviation, and establishing direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil to facilitate mutual growth and trade.
President Tinubu emphasized the willingness of the Brazilian government to collaborate with Nigeria in bolstering the bilateral relationship between the two countries. He reiterated their joint commitment to fostering closer ties and facilitating cooperation across different sectors.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of significant trade relations between Nigeria and Brazil, as highlighted by Francisco Soares Luz, the former Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria. In 2021, trade between the two countries reached $280.81 billion in export earnings, with Brazil exporting more goods to Nigeria than vice versa. However, both parties remain committed to furthering economic cooperation and bridging any existing trade gaps.
The discussions between President Tinubu and President Lula da Silva signal a promising step towards deepening the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, with a focus on mutual prosperity and sustainable development.