The Federal Government has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s forthcoming visit to Brazil as a calculated move to reposition Nigeria’s economy on the global stage.
Mr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, disclosed that the trip will strengthen ties with Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America and a prominent member of the BRICS bloc.
President Tinubu is scheduled to arrive in Brazil on Monday for the two-day engagement, following an invitation by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“This is the third visit of President Tinubu to Brazil, and it is with a justifiable cause. It reflects a renewed and focused effort to build lasting economic integration between our countries. This is a journey that started 21 years ago under President Olusegun Obasanjo and has gained fresh momentum under President Tinubu,” Dare stated.
He underscored the demographic and economic similarities between both nations, saying the collaboration is timely. Highlighting Brazil’s strengths in mechanised farming, renewable energy, and agribusiness, Dare argued that Nigeria stands to gain practical insights to boost its agriculture and industrial output.
“Brazil has a cattle herd of 238 million, even more than its human population. This success in agribusiness offers valuable lessons as we expand our livestock industry,” Dare remarked.
Unlike previous visits to international summits, this mission focuses on bilateral deals. The Presidency stressed that it represents a turning point in Nigeria’s foreign economic strategy, shifting from dialogue to action.
“This third visit is a state visit, moving Nigeria from being a dialogue partner to actively cutting deals that will open up investments and strengthen cooperation,” Dare emphasized.
The state visit is also expected to deepen cooperation in aviation, livestock, trade, and related sectors. It follows Tinubu’s participation in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan.