President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has touched down in Brasília, Brazil, to begin an official state visit, according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.
The Nigerian leader arrived at the Brasília International Airport in the early hours of Monday, precisely at 12:30 am, after departing from Los Angeles, United States. Upon arrival, he was received by senior Brazilian government officials at the Brasília Air Base.
Among those on hand to welcome him were Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, also joined the reception team.
Following his reception at the Air Base, Tinubu was greeted at his hotel by a broader delegation comprising ministers, heads of strategic government agencies, and private sector stakeholders. These groups will later take part in a series of bilateral engagements and agreement signings during the visit.
Onanuga noted that the formal welcoming ceremony will take place later on Monday at the Planalto Palace, where President Tinubu will be received with full military honours. At the palace, he is scheduled to engage in a private tête-à-tête with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva before proceeding to expanded bilateral talks involving senior officials from both countries.
The visit will also feature the signing of key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and Brazil, after which both leaders will jointly address the press.
Beyond his meeting with Lula da Silva, Tinubu is expected to hold talks with other top Brazilian leaders, including the President of the Senate at the National Congress, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.
The president’s itinerary also includes participation in the Nigeria-Brazil Business Forum, a platform designed to strengthen trade, investment, and economic partnerships between the two nations.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy.
His meetings with President Lula da Silva and other top officials are expected to produce fresh agreements and partnerships, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to expanding global cooperation.
