July 06, (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has assured his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, that Nigeria is removing all bottlenecks hindering the growth of its agricultural sector—including livestock production—to achieve food sovereignty and expand export capacity.
Tinubu gave the assurance during a bilateral meeting with President Lula at the Copacabana Forte, Rio de Janeiro, which was attended by cabinet members from both countries.
The President identified bureaucratic delays as a key obstacle to Nigeria’s agricultural development, noting that his administration is implementing reforms to reposition the economy for global competitiveness, particularly in sectors where Nigeria already enjoys comparative advantage.
He said technical issues stalling agreements between the two nations—across trade, aviation, energy transition, agriculture, mining, and natural resource development—would be streamlined and fast-tracked.
“Brazil has been exemplary in research and development, especially in food and agricultural productivity. Nigeria is ready for immediate action and strong partnerships to stimulate food production,” Tinubu said.
On livestock development, Tinubu highlighted his administration’s efforts to attract investments in poultry, cattle rearing, and fisheries. He also noted that Nigeria’s blue economy holds long-term prospects for collaboration with Brazil.
He stressed the importance of sub-national governments in complementing federal efforts to harness agriculture as a major source of employment and economic empowerment.
In response, President Lula assured that all outstanding agreements between Nigeria and Brazil would be regularised, and existing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) updated and signed during President Tinubu’s next visit.
Lula emphasized the need to eliminate red tape in bilateral relations, pledging that Brazil’s renowned research and development institutions would partner with Nigeria to enhance livestock farming and improve agricultural output.
Speaking at the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to food security through both local and international partnerships.
He noted that Nigeria already enjoys a strategic advantage in fertiliser production that could be scaled with the right support.
Also speaking, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, identified three priority areas for partnership with Brazil: animal health and disease management, sanitary and phytosanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.
The meeting was attended by governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), who all expressed support for the federal government’s agricultural roadmap.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, lauded the decision to include a business forum during Tinubu’s state visit, saying it would inject fresh energy and resources into efforts to revamp Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
