President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that Nigeria is eliminating all bureaucratic barriers hindering agricultural and livestock development to achieve food security and expand exports.

During a high-level bilateral meeting at Copacabana Forte in Rio de Janeiro, President Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s economic reforms aimed at boosting global competitiveness, especially in agriculture. He pledged to streamline technicalities in existing agreements with Brazil across trade, aviation, energy, agriculture, mining, and the blue economy.

President Tinubu commended Brazil’s leadership in agricultural research and food production, expressing Nigeria’s readiness for immediate collaboration in poultry, fisheries, and cattle rearing. He also stressed the vital role of subnational governments in driving national food production and employment through agriculture.

President Lula promised to regularise and fast-track all pending agreements and MOUs during President Tinubu’s next visit, and pledged Brazilian support through its research institutions to enhance Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed the president’s commitment to food security through local and international partnerships, while Livestock Development Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha outlined three priority areas for collaboration with Brazil: animal health, sanitation, and genetic research.

The bilateral meeting was attended by Governors of Benue, Ogun, Niger, Delta, and Lagos States, with Governor Dapo Abiodun confirming subnational support for federal agricultural reforms. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and NIA DG, Mohammed Mohammed, were also present.