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Nigeria Pushes for Direct Flights with Brazil

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 30th, 2024.

Nigeria Pushes for Direct Flights with Brazil

President Bola Tinubu has urged Carlos Areias, Brazil’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, to prioritize the establishment of direct flights between the two countries. This appeal was made during the presentation of Areias’ Letter of Credence, where Tinubu reiterated his earlier discussions with President Luiz da Silva in February, held on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

According to a statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President emphasized Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with Brazil on mutual interests and welcomed Brazil’s G20 presidency. He highlighted the strong historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil, encouraging Areias to view Nigeria as a second home and to explore its numerous economic opportunities.

Tinubu also noted ongoing discussions with Brazilian investors about opportunities in Nigeria’s dairy sector, expressing eagerness to advance these investments. He mentioned his agreement with President Lula to enhance economic development and looked forward to further collaboration.

Ambassador Areias relayed President Lula’s anticipation of hosting Tinubu at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19. He also invited Nigeria to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a key initiative of Brazil’s G20 presidency aimed at eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. Areias emphasized his commitment to strengthening Brazil-Nigeria relations and improving trade volumes, which were around $10 billion a decade ago.

In another development, President Tinubu also received the Letter of Credence from Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama. Tinubu praised Ghana’s involvement in ECOWAS and reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to deepening bilateral relations. He welcomed Amoama warmly, noting his background as a former Chief of Defence Staff of Ghana and an alumnus of the University of Ibadan and National Defence College, Abuja.

Amoama assured Nigeria of Ghana’s support for its leadership within the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.