Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The trade volume between Nigeria and Brazil has declined from $10 billion in the recent past to $1.6 billion, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has said.
To this end, Silva said he was determined to strengthen bilateral relations between both countries, especially in the areas of commerce, agriculture, industry, culture and academics.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the Brazilian President spoke during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on comprehensive strengthening of bilateral ties in all fields.
“I cannot imagine that a country of 216 million people and another of 213 million people do not have strong relations. Nigeria and Brazil need stronger relations from academic, cultural, commercial, agricultural, industrial relations, and from trade relations viewpoints.
“It is meaningless that there are no direct flights from Lagos to Sao Paulo and vice versa. I cannot understand that. We have to sit at a table and find a solution for that. In aviation, there are many areas of potential collaboration with our manufacturers who seek to have a greater presence in Africa.
“I only have three more years left of my term, Your Excellency, to do everything I have not done yet. The time is very short. I am in a hurry to make my contributions to improve these relations with Nigeria. To make this happen, we have to put our ministers to work,” Ngelale quoted the Brazilian president as saying.
Responding, President Tinubu, according to Ngelale, said Nigeria was ready to deepen ties with Brazil, noting that it was a legacy of what can be done together to change the future for countless millions of the citizens in both counties.
“We are stopping at nothing to remove all encumbrances to business. Red tape is being shredded around us. There is nothing we will not do to manifest the great potential of our nation. We are fighting corruption from the bottom to the top. We will prevent it, and we will remediate.
“We are very aware of your progressive legacies of social security provision, infrastructure, and reforms in Petrobras. We are in the process of implementing similar reforms in the NNPC Ltd. We are focusing on investment in new production and new energy sources. We are investing in research, and we are removing obstacles to further partnerships in all areas of operation. There is opportunity for both companies in partnership,” he said.
While identifying solid mineral exploration, agriculture, education, and healthcare as areas of immediate concern, President Tinubu emphasized that the will of the two leaders to collaborate was firmly established.
He stated further: “I agree that our countries must now have direct air links. I will form a committee of cabinet members who will work directly with your cabinet, and they will urgently form a joint plan of action for the benefit of our two great countries. We may have missed opportunities in the past, but we now look ahead.
“Brazil and Nigeria share similarities. The phenomenal growth achieved by Brazil in agriculture is exemplary. We will work with you to mechanize our food production systems to enhance quality and quantity of output. I will work with you to re-energize Nigeria’s relations with Brazil across the board.”