The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has initiated discussions with Brazil’s President Luiz Lula Da Silva on fostering economic ties with Brazil in a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a statement signed by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday, Tinubu stressed the economic power and influence of the nation, adding that the country is witnessing a leap forward , despite some short-term reform hurdles, as his administration is removing all obstacles to business.
He said, “We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The economic potential of Nigeria is enormous. We are ready to break all the walls standing in our way to progress.
“We are ready to fight corruption from top to bottom. We are ready to invest in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, infrastructure, and others. I have one of the most dedicated teams on agriculture.”
Comparing Nigeria’s human and resource wealth to Brazil’s, President Luiz Lula noted that Africa’s largest economy and South America’s largest economy have a long and interesting history together.
According to Silva, Nigeria and Brazil once had a trade volume of more than $10 billion in the past, which has now plummeted to $1.6 billion, emphasizing that he is determined to strengthen bilateral relations.
“I am back to try to restore; to reclaim our good relations with Nigeria. I can not imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations,” he stated.
Silva further expressed disappointment that despite the rich human resources in both countries, the relationship was minimal, adding that fostering bilateral ties was needed and essential for both nations.
“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 can not 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,” he posited.
Responding to Brazil’s leader, President Tinubu stated that Nigeria is ready to deepen ties with Brazil, noting that it is a “legacy of what can be done together to change the future for countless millions of our citizens”.
“Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old mistakes. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary. We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energize Nigeria’s relations with Brazil across the board,” Tinubu noted.
President Tinubu after warmly accepting President Lula Da Silva’s invitation for a state visit in Brazil, discussed the modalities for the visit.
