Tinubu Departs Brazil After Historic State Visit, Heads Back to Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has departed Brasília, Brazil, for Abuja after a two-day state visit that produced five new bilateral agreements between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy.

Tinubu’s aircraft took off from Brasília International Airport Air Force Base at 12:57pm local time on Wednesday, following a brief departure ceremony attended by top Brazilian and Nigerian officials.

Among those at the airport were Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, Brazil’s secretary for Africa and the Middle East, and Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, Brazil’s ambassador to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, also joined the farewell delegation.

A ceremonial guard of honour led by Colonel Cel Nicolas completed the formalities.

Tinubu had arrived in Brasília on August 25 to a red-carpet welcome at the Palácio do Planalto, where he was received with full military honours.

During the visit, Tinubu met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and witnessed the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, foreign affairs, science and technology, and agriculture.

The agreements are expected to boost cooperation in air connectivity, agricultural technology transfer, and scientific research.

One of the immediate outcomes is the planned launch of direct flights by Air Peace between Lagos and São Paulo.

Presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the visit as “a new chapter in Nigeria-Brazil relations”, saying the outcomes would strengthen economic ties and deepen diplomatic trust.

Tinubu is expected back in Abuja later today, where he will brief the federal executive council on the outcomes of his trip and outline next steps in implementing the agreements.