President Bola Tinubu was accorded full military honours on Monday in Brasília, Brazil, as he began a state visit to the Latin American country to deepen ties between both nations.
The ceremony, which took place at the Planalto Palace, featured the Nigerian national anthem alongside Brazil’s, with the Nigerian flag flying beside the Brazilian flag.
Military officers in ceremonial uniforms mounted guard as President Tinubu stood with Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, who had earlier received him on arrival.
Following the welcome ceremony, the two leaders proceeded to a private tête-à-tête before moving into expanded bilateral talks with senior government officials.
Among the Brazilian delegation were Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Ambassador Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s envoy to Nigeria.
The Presidency said the visit was designed to unlock opportunities in key sectors.
Discussions will focus on activating long-delayed agricultural investments, particularly the $1.1 billion Green Imperative mechanisation project, while securing new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows in agriculture and energy.
President Tinubu will also attend the Nigeria–Brazil Business Forum, where he is expected to meet leading investors and witness the signing of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Beyond agriculture and energy, officials noted that the State Visit is expected to strengthen cooperation in aviation, renewable energy, cultural exchange, and digital transformation.
It is expected that the engagements will “deepen political trust, expand cultural ties, and unlock shared opportunities in renewable energy, climate resilience, and technology.”