Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja following the completion of a three-day official state visit to Brazil.
At approximately 1:20 a.m. on Thursday, the President arrived at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He was greeted by a delegation comprising prominent political leaders and senior government officials.
Among those who received the President were Governors Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.
Also on hand to welcome the President were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and some ministers, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Budget and Economic Planning Minister and the Minister of Defence, State, Bello Matawalle.
President Tinubu’s visit to Brazil was marked by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, trade, science, diplomacy, and finance.
At a joint press conference in Brasília, the Nigerian President welcomed the imminent return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria—five years after it stopped its joint ventures.
“We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done,” he said.
The agreements also included a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the way for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace.
Other MoUs targeted political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing through Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
President Tinubu also talked about his administration’s economic reforms, assuring Brazilian investors of a stable, transparent financial climate.
He cited Nigeria’s capital market growth as evidence of renewed investor confidence and pledged continued reforms to “unlock capital, protect investors, and drive innovation.”
In a meeting with Nigerians in Brazil, President Tinubu called on the diaspora to contribute actively to nation-building, pledging technology-driven development and food security as the pillars of a prosperous future.
“We must bring Nigeria to the forefront of Africa’s progress, driven by technology, food sovereignty, and the courage to change our destiny,” he told the gathering.
The visit, which featured red-carpet honours, bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and cultural engagements, signalled what both leaders acknowledged as a new era in Nigeria–Brazil relations.
President Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil was preceded by his participation in the recently concluded ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
President Tinubu’s two-nation visit to Brazil and Japan underscores Nigeria’s strategic push to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with major global partners.
Through focused talks on trade, security, agriculture, energy, and cultural cooperation, the visits aim to attract investment and enhance bilateral relations.
The TICAD9 participation by President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and sought greater Japanese investment in infrastructure, technology, and renewable energy.
He also engaged with Nigerians in the diaspora in Japan, urging them to contribute to Nigeria’s development and serve as positive ambassadors.