President Bola Tinubu has called on the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Jose Areias, to prioritize the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil. During a meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he received the Ambassador’s Letter of Credence, Tinubu underscored the importance of this initiative in enhancing bilateral relations.
The President reiterated his earlier discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, held in February on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate closely with Brazil to advance shared priorities and deepen the longstanding cultural and economic ties between the two nations.
“We have a long history of bilateral and cultural relations with Brazil. You must see Nigeria as your second home and explore the abundant economic opportunities in the country,” Tinubu stated.
The President also highlighted the potential for Brazilian investment in Nigeria, particularly in sectors such as dairy farming, and expressed eagerness to move forward with such collaborations. He noted that his discussions with President Lula had focused on energizing economic development between the two countries.
In response, Ambassador Areias conveyed President Lula’s anticipation of Tinubu’s attendance at the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in November in Rio de Janeiro. He also extended an invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a key initiative of Brazil’s G20 presidency aimed at eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.
Areias expressed his commitment to strengthening Brazil-Nigeria relations, noting the cultural similarities between the two countries. He highlighted that a decade ago, trade between Nigeria and Brazil was valued at around $10 billion and pledged to work towards increasing this figure. He reaffirmed that Africa, and Nigeria in particular, remains a top priority for President Lula’s administration.
