President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have initiated efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between their respective countries, focusing on key areas such as trade, cultural exchange, and direct flights.
As reported by PUNCH, The leaders convened on the sidelines of the 37th summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they acknowledged the historical ties between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s largest economy.
Both leaders expressed a shared commitment to revitalizing and expanding their countries’ relationship, which has experienced a decline in trade volume over the years.
President Lula lamented the decrease in trade between Nigeria and Brazil, emphasizing the need to explore avenues for collaboration in agriculture, industrialization, and other sectors.
He specifically highlighted the absence of direct flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo as a barrier to closer ties and economic cooperation.
“It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa,” remarked President Lula. He
He disclosed the importance of addressing this issue and exploring opportunities for aviation collaboration to facilitate smoother travel and business transactions between the two nations.
In response, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its relationship with Brazil.
He emphasized Nigeria’s economic potential and ongoing efforts to remove obstacles to business growth, including corruption and bureaucratic red tape.
Presidents Tinubu commended Brazil for its progressive initiatives in social security, infrastructure, and energy, expressing a desire to emulate similar reforms in Nigeria.
“We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business,” President Tinubu stated. He outlined his administration’s focus on critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture to ensure sustainable economic prosperity for all Nigerians.
Addressing the issue of direct flights, President Tinubu pledged to establish a committee to coordinate discussions and develop a comprehensive plan in collaboration with Brazil.
He emphasized the need to learn from past mistakes and capitalize on shared interests to foster stronger relations between Nigeria and Brazil.
“Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old mistakes,” President Tinubu remarked. He expressed eagerness to work with Brazil to enhance food production systems and revitalize Nigeria’s relations with Brazil across various domains.
The meeting concluded with both leaders agreeing to explore the modalities for a state visit to Brazil by President Tinubu, following an invitation extended by President Lula.
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