Tinubu, who arrived in Brasília from Japan after attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), is meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to finalise a series of agreements expected to boost trade and create millions of jobs.
Aviation and Connectivity
One of the highlights of the visit is the restoration of direct air services between Nigeria and Brazil. Under the new bilateral air service agreement, Brazil’s national carrier, Varig Air, alongside Nigerian airlines Air Peace and Caverton, will operate flights linking Rio de Janeiro and Lagos.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is expected to sign the pact on behalf of the federal government during the summit.
Agriculture and Livestock Investment
The talks will also unlock significant investments in Nigeria’s livestock sector, following the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by President Tinubu to harness the country’s potential in the subsector. Brazil, a global agricultural powerhouse, is set to provide equipment, technology, and expertise to modernise Nigeria’s livestock production.
The visit also paves the way for the implementation of the Green Imperative Partnership (GIP) — a US$1.1 billion programme for the supply and local assembly of 10,000 tractors and 50,000 farm implements. The initiative is projected to create at least 100,000 direct jobs and five million indirect jobs while boosting food security.
Economic Cooperation
Nigeria and Brazil, two of the largest economies in the Global South, are seeking closer cooperation in food security, climate change, renewable energy, and digital innovation. Both governments are also keen to strengthen South-South collaboration in trade and industrialisation.
Bilateral trade between the two countries, once valued at US$9 billion a decade ago, dropped to US$1.6 billion in 2023. In 2024, the figure remained under US$2 billion, with Brazil exporting about US$970 million worth of machinery and poultry to Nigeria, while Nigeria exported roughly US$920 million worth of oil, cocoa, sesame, and urea to Brazil.
Despite the decline, Nigeria’s non-oil exports to Brazil have grown significantly, with Brazil emerging as the single largest destination for Nigerian agro-exports in 2024, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the total.
Strategic Ambitions
Officials from both sides are optimistic about reviving bilateral trade volumes to above US$2 billion in the short term and targeting US$3.5 billion by 2030.
Brazilian energy and aviation giants, including Petrobras and Embraer, are reportedly exploring new opportunities in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and aviation sectors. The signing of the BASA Agreement for direct flights is expected to improve connectivity, lower costs, and unlock new flows of tourism, investment, and commerce.
President Tinubu described the visit as a turning point in Nigeria-Brazil relations, stressing that enhanced cooperation would generate investments, create millions of jobs, and reposition Nigeria as a hub for South America-Africa trade.
