3 months ago
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President Bola Tinubu has encouraged the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Areias, to make direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil a top priority.
While receiving the Letter of Credence from the Brazilian Ambassador on Thursday in Abuja, Tinubu reaffirmed his February discussions with Brazilian President Luiz da Silva regarding the issue during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Brazil.
Tinubu, as contained in the statement, also welcomed Brazil’s leadership of the G20 in 2024, expressing a desire to collaborate closely on global issues of mutual interest.
The statement read in part, ”We have a long history of bilateral and cultural relations with Brazil. You must see Nigeria as your second home and explore the abundant economic opportunities in the country.”
”I have been talking to some of my Brazilian friends concerning the prospects of investing in dairy farming in Nigeria. We are eager to push these investments forward.
”In my recent discussions with President Lula, we agreed to energize the economic development of our two countries, and I look forward to continuing that collaboration.”
In his remarks, Areias mentioned that President Lula is eager to welcome President Tinubu to the G20 Leaders’ Summit on November 18 and 19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro.
He also extended President Lula’s invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
The ambassador explained that this initiative, which focuses on food security, is the Brazilian presidency’s key proposal at the G20 to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.
He continued, “I am in a country similar to Brazil, and I feel very much at home here with the culture, music, and people of Nigeria.
”I will do whatever I can to improve Brazil-Nigeria relations. Ten years ago, the volume of trade between our two countries was in the region of $10 billion, and I will work hard to improve the number.
”Africa is a top priority for President Lula, and Nigeria is the most important country for us.”
In a similar event, Tinubu accepted the Letter of Credence from Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama (Rtd).
The statement noted that the President commended Ghana for its strong engagement in ECOWAS and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its ties with the West African country.
