The Presidency on Sunday defended President Bola Tinubu’s two-day official visit to Brazil, scheduled for 24–25 August 2025.

Addressing criticism of the trip on TVC’s Sunday Politics in Abuja, presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare described the visit as a strategic move to deepen Nigeria’s cooperation with Latin America’s largest economy and key BRICS member.

Dare noted that the visit aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of diversifying and strengthening its economy beyond traditional partnerships, emphasizing that the timing and purpose of the trip are crucial for national growth.

He said, “This is the third visit of President Tinubu to Brazil, and it is with a justifiable cause. It reflects a renewed and focused effort to build lasting economic integration between our countries a journey that started 21 years ago under President Obasanjo and has gained fresh momentum under President Tinubu.”

Dare emphasized notable similarities between Nigeria and Brazil, pointing out their comparable populations, 225 million in Nigeria and 212 million in Brazil, as well as Brazil’s leading role globally in mechanized agriculture and renewable energy.

“Brazil has a cattle herd of 238 million, even more than its human population. This success in agribusiness offers valuable lessons for us as we expand our livestock industry.”

Unlike previous trips that focused on international summits such as the G20 and BRICS, the Special Adviser noted that this visit signals a deliberate shift toward securing concrete economic and political deals.

“This third visit is a state visit, and it moves Nigeria from being a dialogue partner to actively cutting the necessary deals that will open up investments and strengthen cooperation. This visit is critical to opening the economic chapter of our relationship with Brazil.

“It’s about transforming historic and cultural ties into practical, mutually beneficial investments that will boost Nigeria’s growth and global standing,” he added.

He further highlighted that the administration has secured $5 billion in foreign direct investment within its first two years.

Dare added that while investments take time to come to fruition, “This government has been in power for only two years. Several MOUs have already been activated, and I can assure you that most of the projects linked to them will soon be implemented to benefit our nation.”

He added that Brazil presents one of Nigeria’s most promising opportunities, given the countries’ similarities in agriculture, oil and gas, and youth development.

President Bola Tinubu is in Brasília, Brazil’s capital, for a two-day state visit.

The visit comes after Tinubu attended the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Japan and made a three-day stopover in Los Angeles before heading to South America.

In Brazil, Tinubu’s state visit will aim to “activate multi-billion-dollar agricultural investments, advance joint initiatives such as the $1.1 billion Green Imperative mechanization project, and attract new foreign direct investment into Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors,” according to the presidency.