President Bola Tinubu on Saturday assured Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that his administration is working to eliminate all bottlenecks hindering Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly bureaucratic hurdles that delay its growth and potential.
Tinubu gave this assurance during a bilateral meeting with President Lula and members of both countries’ cabinets at Copacabana Forte.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement titled, “We’re Removing All Bottlenecks to Improve Food and Agric Production in Nigeria, Says President Tinubu to Brazilian Leader.”
According to the statement, Tinubu said Nigeria is undergoing reforms to reposition its economy for global competitiveness, with a particular focus on agriculture, where the country holds a competitive advantage.
Tinubu also pledged to streamline and fast-track technical agreements between Nigeria and Brazil in areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agriculture, mining, and natural resources exploration.
The President noted that Brazil’s research and development services in agriculture have been exemplary and expressed interest in collaborations to boost Nigeria’s livestock farming, including poultry, cattle rearing, fisheries, and the blue economy. He emphasised Nigeria’s readiness for a strong partnership with Brazil to drive immediate food production.
Tinubu highlighted the pivotal role of Nigerian subnational governments in enhancing food and livestock production, noting that their efforts complement federal initiatives to make agriculture a major source of employment and revenue generation.
President Lula assured that all agreements with Nigeria would be regularised, with Memoranda of Understanding updated and signed during Tinubu’s next visit. He stressed the need to eliminate bureaucratic delays to ensure swift results, adding that Brazil’s research institutions would collaborate with Nigeria to boost livestock farming.
Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Kyari said Tinubu has consistently prioritised food security, adding that the government would leverage both local and international partnerships to realise this mandate. Kyari also noted Nigeria’s advantage in fertiliser production, which can be expanded to support agricultural growth.
Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha outlined potential areas of collaboration with Brazil, including livestock health and disease management, sanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.
Also present at the meeting were the governors of Benue, Hyacinth Alia; Ogun, Dapo Abiodun; Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago; Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori; and Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun affirmed that subnational governments would support the federal government’s agricultural reforms. He said the inclusion of a business forum during Tinubu’s visit would introduce new ideas and investments to revitalise Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Other officials at the meeting included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
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