By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria and Brazil has taken a bold step to strengthen bilateral relationship, focusing on cooperation in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure development.
This was as a high-level Brazilian delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira, met with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The discussions aimed to explore mutual opportunities, with both countries expected to formalize several agreements.
In his welcome address, Amb. Tuggar highlighted Brazil’s longstanding relationship with Nigeria, and noted that it was the only Latin American country to attend Nigeria’s independence celebrations.
He described the visit as a natural step in deepening cooperation and building on past engagements.
The Minister also referenced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Brazil last year, during which he participated in the G20 summit and pursued initiatives to enhance diplomatic and economic ties.
In reponse, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Nigeria, building on previous engagements since President Lula took office in January 2023.
Vieira eemphasised he need for strategic dialogue and deeper collaboration in areas such as culture, economics, education, and cooperation.
He acknowledged the strong historical and cultural ties between Brazilians and Nigerians, highlighting the significant Nigerian influence in Brazilian society.
The envoy recalled his first meeting with Nigerian officials in Dubai in 2023, followed by the high-level discussions between President Lula and President Tinubu in Addis Ababa in 2024.
Vieira also commended President Tinubu’s participation in the G20 summit in Brazil last November, recognizing Nigeria’s contributions to global discussions.
Expressing appreciation for the warm reception in Abuja, Vieira lauded the Nigerian government for hosting the Brazilian delegation and looked forward to productive engagements to advance mutual interests.