President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, urged Carlos Jose Areias, the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, to prioritize establishing direct flights between the two countries. Receiving the Ambassador’s Letter of Credence, President Tinubu reiterated discussions he had with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in February during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and highlighted the need to advance shared economic priorities. He welcomed Brazil’s upcoming presidency of the G20 in 2024.
“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 said, noting ongoing discussions with Brazilian investors regarding dairy farming in Nigeria. The President expressed eagerness to boost economic cooperation and build on the recent dialogue with President Lula.
Ambassador Areias conveyed President Lula’s anticipation of welcoming President Tinubu to the G20 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for November 18-19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro. He also extended an invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative focused on food security and poverty elimination by 2030. “I am in a country similar to Brazil, and I feel very much at home here with the culture, music, and people of Nigeria,” Areias stated, pledging to enhance the Brazil-Nigeria trade relationship.
On the same day, President Tinubu received the Letter of Credence from Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama (Rtd). Tinubu praised Ghana’s active role in ECOWAS and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with its West African ally. High Commissioner Amoama expressed Ghana’s unwavering support for President Tinubu’s leadership within the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.