Nigeria and Brazil have taken significant steps to strengthen bilateral relations in critical areas of agriculture, energy and infrastructure development for mutual benefit of both countries following relations that date back to Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
This was the crux of a high-level visit of a delegation from Brazil, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Viera that arrived in Abuja on Wednesday for crucial bilateral talks, which marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
The Brazilian delegation is expected to engage with Nigerian officials on ways to explore opportunities for collaboration in other areas such as education, economic cooperation and culture after which they were expected to sign several agreements.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, in his remarks while welcoming the delegation, noted that Brazil was the only Latin American country to attend Nigeria’s independence celebration, underscoring the strong historical ties between the two nations.
“We share a lot in common, from our size and economies to our population and culture. This visit is a natural progression of our partnership,” he stated.
The minister also highlighted the complementarities between Nigeria and Brazil, citing their robust engagement since independence. He reflected on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, where he attended the G20 summit and engaged in activities to strengthen bilateral ties.
Ambassador Tuggar emphasized the significance of the visit, saying, “We welcome you and your delegation warmly, and we’re happy to see you here in Abuja. This visit is a continuation of our efforts to strengthen the bond between our two countries.”
In response, the Brazilian Minister Viera, recalled his first meeting with Nigerian officials in Dubai in 2023 and the subsequent meeting between President Lula and President Tinubu in Addis Ababa in 2024.
Viera commended President Tinubu’s participation in the G20 summit in Brazil last November, stressing that Nigeria made valuable contributions to the forum.
He also extended an invitation from President Lula for President Tinubu to visit Brazil in the near future to strengthen bilateral relations, building on previous engagements since President Lula took office in January 2023.
The Brazilian minister also highlighted the importance of strategic dialogue and exploring deeper relations.
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