President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to eliminating all obstacles hindering agricultural and livestock production in a bid to strengthen food security and unlock export opportunities.
Speaking during a high-level bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva at the Copacabana Forte, Tinubu emphasized that bureaucratic delays have long stalled agricultural progress. He assured the Brazilian delegation that Nigeria is undergoing critical economic reforms aimed at enhancing global competitiveness—especially in agriculture, where the nation holds significant advantage.
Nigeria, Brazil to Deepen Cooperation in Agriculture and Trade
President Tinubu pledged to streamline and accelerate agreements between the two nations in key areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, food production, mining, and natural resource exploration. He acknowledged Brazil’s global leadership in agricultural research and productivity, expressing interest in adopting similar strategies to transform Nigeria’s agribusiness landscape.
On livestock development, Tinubu cited ongoing initiatives by his administration to attract investment into poultry, cattle rearing, fisheries, and the blue economy. He called for immediate and actionable partnerships with Brazil to stimulate domestic food production and economic growth.
Highlighting the role of subnational governments, President Tinubu noted that state-level partnerships are vital for accelerating food and animal production, creating jobs, and expanding Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
In response, President Lula Da Silva pledged Brazil’s full support. He promised to finalize pending agreements and update Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) during Tinubu’s next official visit to Brazil. He also expressed readiness for Brazil’s research institutions to collaborate with Nigeria on livestock health, disease control, and breed development.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, praised Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security. He emphasized the importance of leveraging both domestic and international partnerships to scale agricultural productivity.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, identified three priority areas for collaboration with Brazil: animal health, sanitary regulations, and research into advanced genetic materials.
State governors from Benue, Ogun, Niger, Delta, and Lagos attended the meeting and reiterated their support for federal efforts to modernize agriculture. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun noted that the inclusion of a Nigeria-Brazil business forum during the visit would catalyze innovation and attract resources needed to revamp the sector.
Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
