Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu : “Honoured to be in Brasilia, capital of Brazil for the momentous state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday, Monday 25th August for the kickstart of a dynamic phase of Brazil- Nigeria relations.

“We received a warm welcome and our President was accorded a red-carpet reception and full military honours by his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the Planalto Palace in Brasília, the seat of the Brazilian presidency.

“Several strategic agreements and MOUs between our countries were signed across multiple sectors including Trade, Finance, Agriculture, Innovation, including the Bilateral Air Services Agreement ( BASA) for direct flights from Nigeria to Brazil between the Ministers of Aviation of both countries. Brazilian oil giant Petrobas has also announced that it would be returning to Nigeria.

“I signed, together with My Brazilian Counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, an agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation.

 ‘Together, We also signed an MoU on political consultations to address bilateral, regional, and international issues of common interest.

“A new, exciting phase of bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Brazil is about to begin. President Inacio Lula da Silva and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has been pushing to expand the horizon of Nigeria’s international cooperation have ignited the hopes of better things to come in bilateral relations between both countries.