During talks with Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President Bola Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s proactive approach to revitalizing bilateral ties, with a commitment to breathing new life into a relationship that has faded in recent times.
A key agenda item in their discussions revolves around the facilitation of direct flight services connecting Nigeria and Brazil.
In the sidelines of the 37th African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, the two leaders affirmed the deep-rooted and captivating historical connections between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s economic powerhouse.
In his capacity as a special guest at the summit, Lula expressed dismay at the notable reduction in trade between both countries, citing a decrease from $10 billion to $1.6 billion.
He identified other key areas of improvement including agriculture and industrialisation, wondering why there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo.
Read also: Israel’s Response ‘As Grave’ As Hamas Attack – Brazil’s Lula
‘I am back to try to restore; to reclaim our good relations with Nigeria. I cannot imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations.’
‘Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from the academic viewpoint; from the cultural viewpoint; from the commercial viewpoint; from the agricultural viewpoint; from the industrial relations viewpoint, and from trade relations viewpoint.’
‘It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I cannot understand that. We have to sit at a table and find a solution for that. In aviation, there are many areas of potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater presence in Africa,’ Lula said in a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Ajuri Ngelale, on Sunday.’
In his remarks, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s keenness to deepen engagement with the South American nation.
He reminded everyone of Nigeria’s economic resilience and global impact, recognizing the bumps in the road during reform efforts but promising unwavering support to businesses navigating the changes.
‘We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business. Red tape is being shredded around us. There is nothing we will not do to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate.’
‘We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. “We are in the process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPCL. We are focusing on investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of operation. There is an opportunity for both companies in partnership,’ Tinubu said.
In addition, he highlighted his administration’s proactive approach to investing in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, aiming to guarantee the welfare of every Nigerian citizen while laying the foundation for long-term economic prosperity.
To facilitate direct flights, Tinubu vowed to establish a committee to engage with Brazil and devise a meticulous plan, highlighting the importance of steering clear of previous pitfalls.