Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday departed Abuja for a strategic diplomatic tour of Japan and Brazil, aimed at boosting trade relations and courting foreign investors. A brief stop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is also part of the itinerary.
The departure, which took place at 11:15 a.m., was marked by a send-off from key officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. The President took time to greet each dignitary before boarding.
According to Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the President’s first engagement will be at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22. While there, Tinubu will engage with Japanese corporate leaders, highlighting opportunities in Nigeria’s energy, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors.
Following the Japan visit, Tinubu will proceed to Brasília from August 24 to 25 at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The discussions in Brazil are expected to focus on expanding bilateral cooperation in trade, renewable energy, and infrastructure development.
Analysts say the tour is part of a sustained campaign to attract long-term foreign investment, positioning Nigeria as a gateway to Africa’s fast-growing consumer market.