James Uche
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that Nigeria is taking decisive steps to eliminate bureaucratic and structural hurdles hindering its agricultural sector from reaching full potential.
Speaking during a high-level bilateral meeting at the historic Copacabana Forte, President Tinubu emphasized that his administration is implementing wide-ranging reforms to unlock the power of agriculture as a major pillar for food sovereignty, job creation, and export earnings.
The Nigerian leader highlighted bureaucratic delays as a major bottleneck impeding agricultural growth and pledged to remove these constraints to foster faster collaboration and investment.
“We are removing all bottlenecks to improve food and agricultural production in Nigeria. Our aim is food sovereignty, economic competitiveness, and stronger export capacity,” Tinubu said during the session, which included cabinet members from both countries.
The President’s remarks were contained in a statement issued Saturday night by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, titled ‘We’re Removing All Bottlenecks To Improve Food And Agric Production In Nigeria, Says President Tinubu To Brazilian Leader.’
Tinubu praised Brazil’s agricultural research and development capacity, noting that the South American giant ranks among the world’s top producers of agricultural commodities. He called for deeper collaboration in livestock development, poultry, fisheries, and the emerging blue economy, which he said could offer long-term benefits for both nations.
The President stressed that sub-national actors—state governors and local authorities—must play a pivotal role in complementing federal efforts to transform agriculture into a viable economic engine.
President Lula, in response, assured that all pending Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Nigeria and Brazil would be updated and signed without delay, potentially during Tinubu’s next official visit.
“We must remove the lingering bureaucracy between our countries to achieve quick results,” Lula said, committing to support joint agricultural initiatives through Brazil’s top research institutions.
Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, affirmed that the administration is prioritizing food security and has leveraged Nigeria’s comparative advantage in fertilizer production and agro-based industries to attract foreign partnerships.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, identified three key focus areas for Nigeria–Brazil collaboration: health and disease control in animals, sanitary and veterinary services as well as esearch into genetic materials and improved livestock breeds
He emphasized that partnerships with Brazil would help revamp Nigeria’s livestock sector, making it more productive and sustainable.
Governors in attendance—including Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos)—pledged to align their respective state programmes with the federal government’s framework for agricultural transformation.
Governor Abiodun specifically commended the inclusion of a Nigeria–Brazil Business Forum in the state visit itinerary, stating it would inject “fresh ideas and capital” into Nigeria’s struggling but high-potential agricultural sector.
“Subnationals stand ready to support the federal government’s initiatives. The forum will accelerate results and inspire confidence among investors and development partners,” Abiodun said.
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed, who joined discussions on broader cooperation between both countries.
The bilateral dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening Nigeria–Brazil relations, with agriculture, food security, energy, and natural resources positioned as key sectors for mutual growth.
With Tinubu vowing to streamline technical processes and Brazil signaling readiness to act swiftly, stakeholders believe the renewed engagement could unlock billions in investment and put Nigeria firmly on the path to food independence.