As the ongoing African Union summit gathers steam, President
Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil met in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.
Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity,
Ajuri Ngelale said their discussions were quite fruitful especially as they
centred on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields.
The Brazilian President said Nigeria and Brazil once had a
trade volume of more than $10 billion in the past, which has now plummeted to
$1.6 billion, emphasizing that he is determined to strengthen bilateral
relations.
But wooing his colleague to tap into the Nigerian investment space, Tinubu emphasized the strength of Nigeria’s economic potential and influence, saying the country is witnessing a leap forward, despite some short-term reform pains, as his administration is removing all encumbrances to business.
He further explained that his administration is investing in
critical sectors of the economy like healthcare, education, and agriculture to
ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens and to create sustainable economic
prosperity for future generations.
“We have a very vibrant population of young Nigerians who
are trainable, dependable, and should be empowered. The economic potential of
Nigeria is enormous. We are ready to break all the walls standing in our way to
progress.
“We are ready to fight corruption from top to bottom. We are
ready to invest in critical sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education,
infrastructure, and others. I have one of the most dedicated teams in
agriculture,” he said.
Assessing Nigeria’s natural and human resource wealth akin
to Brazil’s, President Lula da Silva said Africa’s largest economy and South
America’s largest economy have a long and interesting history together.
Lula da Silva said, “I am back to try to restore; to reclaim
our good relations with Nigeria. I can not imagine that a country of 216
million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations.
“Mr. President, I am 78 years old. You are 71. What keeps me
energetic is that I fight for a cause. The cause of my nation and people. A
great cause is the elixir of sustained vitality for experienced leaders.
“Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from the
academic viewpoint; from the cultural viewpoint; from the commercial viewpoint;
from the agricultural viewpoint; from the industrial relations viewpoint, and
from trade relations viewpoint.
“It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos
to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I can not understand that. We have to sit at a
table and find a solution for that. In aviation, there are many areas of
potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater
presence in Africa.
“I only have three more years left of my term, Your
Excellency, to do everything I have not done yet. The time is very short. I am
in a hurry to make my contributions to improve these relations with Nigeria. To
make this happen, we have to put our ministers to work,” he said.
Responding, President Tinubu said Nigeria is ready to deepen
ties with Brazil, noting that it is a “legacy of what can be done together to
change the future for countless millions of our citizens”.
“We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to
business. Red tape is being shredded around us. There is nothing we will not do
to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from
the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate.
“We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social
security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. We are in the
process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPCL. We are focusing on
investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in
research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of
operation. There is an opportunity for both companies in partnership,” the
President said.
While identifying solid mineral exploration, agriculture,
education, and healthcare as areas of immediate concern, President Tinubu
emphasized that the will of the two leaders to collaborate is firmly
established.
“I agree that our countries must now have direct air links.
I will form a committee of cabinet members who will work directly with your
cabinet ministers, and they will urgently form a joint plan of action for the
benefit of our two great countries. We may have missed opportunities in the
past, but we now look ahead.
“Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. Let us forget old
mistakes. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary.
We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance
quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energize Nigeria’s
relations with Brazil across the board,” the President stated.
The leaders of the largest democracies in Africa and South
America, respectively, agreed to work out the modalities for a state visit to
Brazil by President Tinubu after President Lula da Silva extended an invitation,
which the Nigerian leader warmly accepted.
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