President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Brasília to begin a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Brazil, the Aso Rock has announced.
The Nigerian leader was received at Brasília Air Base on Monday by senior Brazilian government officials, including Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s ambassador to Nigeria.
Mr Tinubu, who flew in from Yokohama, Japan, after attending the 9th TICAD Summit, was also met by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, upon his arrival.
A formal welcome ceremony with full military honours is scheduled to take place at the Planalto Palace on Monday, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Following the ceremony, President Tinubu will hold private talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, before expanded bilateral meetings involving senior officials from both governments.
The two leaders are expected to witness the signing of memoranda of understanding and address a joint press conference.
Other members of the Nigerian delegation, including ministers, heads of government agencies and private sector leaders, welcomed the president at his hotel and are scheduled to participate in the bilateral discussions.
The visit represents another milestone in deepening relations between the two nations since Mr Tinubu’s inauguration on 29 May 2023.
Previous high-level engagements have included the Nigerian president’s participation in the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in July 2025 and the G20 Summit in November 2024, both held in Brazil.
The bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Brazil, which dates back to the early 1960s, has recently concentrated on key areas including agriculture and defence.
Recent agreements, including a defence cooperation pact and a strategic dialogue mechanism, demonstrate both nations’ commitment to expanding their partnership.
The visit is expected to build upon initiatives such as the $1.1bn (£860m) Green Imperative Programme and the $2.5bn JBS investment, both designed to enhance Nigeria’s food security and create employment opportunities.
