By Anthony Ailemen
President Bola Tinubu on Monday welcomed Petrobras’s imminent return to Nigeria, five years after Brazil’s state-owned oil company halted its joint venture operations.
Nigeria and Brazil have a robust trade relationships, with Nigeria standing as Brazil’s 49th largest export destination,.
Trade between the two countries peaked at nearly US$2.1 billion in 2024.
Brazil exported almost US$1 billion to Nigeria, primarily sugar and jams, and imported US$1.1 billion, mostly fertilisers.
Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on onformation and strategy, said the decision would reignite Nigeria’s economy.
The President stated this at a joint press conference in Brasília during his ongoing State Visit to Brazil.
President Tinubu said Petrobras’ return would reignite economic cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries.
“We have the largest gas repository. So I don’t see why Petrobras doesn’t join as a partner in Nigeria as soon as possible. I appreciate President Lula’s promise that this will be done as soon as possible,” he said.
During the state visit, Nigeria and Brazil also signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen trade, diplomacy, science, aviation, and finance cooperation.
President Tinubu praised President Lula’s commitment to revitalising the partnership between the two countries, noting that Nigeria’s economic space remains a virgin land, full of opportunities for Brazilian companies.
He acknowledged Embraer’s efforts in addressing the critical challenges of local airline operations in Nigeria, primarily through establishing a Service Centre to serve as a hub for the subregion in essential repairs and maintenance of its ever-increasing fleet in Nigeria.
President Tinubu recalled his previous engagements in Brazil and emphasised the urgency of moving beyond symbolic ties to concrete economic cooperation.
“Honourable Ministers of both countries, members of the Brazil Business Group, I have listened carefully to my friend, President Lula. We had a lengthy discussion. We talked about history and about African and Brazilian heritage.
“We tried to see why we are not at the level we wanted. We have allowed some problems and activities in the past to deter us from making progress and fulfilling our promises. But today we say that is the end of that.
“This is my third visit to the country. First, the visit to attend the G20. Second, on climate change, BRICS. And today, an official and state visit was very emotional.”
Highlighting the areas of cooperation, the President underscored Nigeria’s readiness to partner with Brazil on technology transfer, food security, manufacturing, and renewable energy.
“Today, we are fighting and working hard to bring our sovereignty to the level of expectation that we as a nation, the most populous, the most dynamic country, Nigeria, share with Brazil. We need to share—technology transfer, energy, economy—so that Brazil can continue to widen the opportunities for us to embrace Africa. Africa is the new frontier.
Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil: Air Peace to begin direct flight from Lagos to São Paulo
Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace will soon begin a direct flight from Lagos to the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.
The direct flight was one of the agreements reached between President… pic.twitter.com/PJWG9WQwXD
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) August 26, 2025
“There is no other way to do it than to embrace it with technology, fast development, research, food sovereignty, and manufacturing,” he said.
The President stressed the need for investment and knowledge exchange on healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
“We have elevated this promise to the path of reality, as you have seen in various MOUs. I don’t know why the manufacturing of generic drugs, which Brazil has done deeply and far, cannot be in Nigeria.
”I don’t see why the technological superiority of Brazil is not shared with Africa. We assured each other that only we can develop our economies to help our sovereignty.”
The President reiterated to investors that Nigeria’s economic reforms are yielding results.
“The reforms I’ve embarked upon since I took over in Nigeria have been very impactful. It was initially painful, but today the result is blossoming.
”It’s getting clearer to the people. We have more money for the economy, and there will be no more corruption. We have the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria here. You don’t have to know him before getting the foreign exchange you need. The speculators are out. In our currency market, the door is open for businesses,” he said.
President Lula welcomed the restart of the Brazil-Nigeria relationship.
“At a time when protectionism and unilateralism have returned, Nigeria and Brazil reaffirm their bet on free trade and productive integration. We continue to be dedicated to building a world of peace, free from hegemonic impositions.
“There are many possibilities for synergy between the world’s two largest countries with Black populations. Agriculture and livestock, oil and gas, fertilisers, aircraft, and machinery, among others, represent wide avenues for cooperation”.
Air Peace to operate direct flight from Lagos to São Paulo
He spoke further on the BASA agreement: “Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo”.
Following a two-hour expanded bilateral meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements and MOUs at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília.
The Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, , and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to boost trade and people-to-people ties.
Bianca Ojukwu, the minister of state for foreign affairs of Nigeria, and Mauro Vieira, minister of foreign affairs of Brazil, signed an agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation.
Both ministers also signed an MoU on political consultations to address bilateral, regional, and international issues of common interest.
Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, signed an MoU on cooperation in biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, innovation ecosystems, energy, space development, digital transformation, and raw materials research.
Ayo Sotinri, Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, and Brazil’s Minister for the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MOU for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects.
President Tinubu attended a state luncheon hosted at the Itamaraty Palace following the press conference. (BusinessDay)
