President Bola Tinubu arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday night to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, marking Nigeria’s debut as a “partner country” at the economic gathering.

The presidential jet, which departed Saint Lucia earlier in the day, landed at Rio International Airport at approximately 8:45 p.m. local time.

Tinubu was received by Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and the Secretary for Innovation and Commerce.

The Nigerian leader is one of four African presidents invited to the summit, joining counterparts from South Africa, Egypt, and Ethiopia, the three African nations that hold full BRICS membership.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement that President Tinubu’s invitation came at the behest of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, citing Nigeria’s new status as a “partner country” within BRICS.

According to Onanuga, the Partner status is higher than that of a guest country, as has been the case in the past.

This year’s meeting comes amid rising global trade tensions, particularly in light of renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. BRICS leaders are expected to respond with calls for increased intra-bloc collaboration to reduce reliance on Western markets.