President Bola Tinubu has urged Carlos Jose Areias, the newly appointed Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, to prioritize establishing direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil.
During a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, where he received Areias’s Letter of Credence, President Tinubu reiterated his discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on this matter from February’s African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Brazil and expressed enthusiasm about Brazil’s upcoming presidency of the G20 in 2024.
He highlighted the historical and cultural connections between the two countries, encouraging Areias to view Nigeria as a second home and explore its numerous economic opportunities, particularly in dairy farming.
“We have a long history of bilateral and cultural relations with Brazil,” Tinubu stated. “I have been discussing the potential for investment in dairy farming with Brazilian friends and look forward to advancing these investments.”
In response, Ambassador Areias conveyed President Lula’s eagerness to host President Tinubu at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19, 2024.
He also extended an invitation for Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a key initiative of the Brazilian G20 presidency aimed at eradicating extreme poverty by 2030.
Areias expressed his affinity for Nigeria, noting similarities in culture and music, and pledged to enhance Brazil-Nigeria relations. He also mentioned his goal to increase the current trade volume, which stood at approximately $10 billion a decade ago.
In a separate engagement, President Tinubu also received the Letter of Credence from Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama (Rtd), Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.
Tinubu praised Ghana’s active role in ECOWAS and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening ties with its West African neighbor.
Amoama, a former Chief of Defence Staff of Ghana and an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, assured Ghana’s support for Nigeria’s leadership in ECOWAS and expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership.
“Every effort will be made to support Nigeria’s leadership and our bilateral relations,” Amoama stated.
