President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to eliminate bureaucratic and structural impediments stalling Nigeria’s agricultural and food production growth, declaring his administration’s full commitment to achieving food security and export capacity through strategic global partnerships.

Speaking during a high-level bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Copacabana Forte in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, President Tinubu said Nigeria is undergoing sweeping reforms to reposition its economy with agriculture, including livestock production at the forefront of the government’s agenda.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga President Tinubu said “we are ready for a strong partnership and immediate action to stimulate food production.

“All bottlenecks, including bureaucratic technicalities in our bilateral agreements, will be removed to accelerate collaboration in trade, aviation, energy transition, mining, and particularly agriculture, where Nigeria has a clear comparative advantage.”

The meeting was attended by ministers and senior officials from both countries, as well as five Nigerian state governors.

President Tinubu praised Brazil’s global leadership in agricultural research and development, describing its experience as “exemplary” and worth emulating.

He said Nigeria would leverage Brazilian expertise to deepen investments in poultry, cattle rearing, and fisheries, while also exploring potential cooperation in the emerging blue economy sector.

“Sub-national governments in Nigeria have a pivotal role to play. Their efforts will complement the federal drive to make agriculture a primary driver of employment and revenue generation,” Tinubu added.

President Lula da Silva reciprocated Tinubu’s sentiments, assuring that Brazil would act swiftly to regularise and update all outstanding memoranda of understanding with Nigeria.

He emphasized the need to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks between the two countries to produce “quick and tangible results.”

“We are committed to working with Nigeria to remove every obstacle. Brazil’s research institutions will collaborate with Nigerian counterparts to develop livestock production and enhance productivity,” President Lula said.

The bilateral engagement was part of President Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Brazil, where he is also participating in the 17th BRICS Summit.

The meeting underscored growing ties between Nigeria and Brazil as both seek to deepen cooperation in critical economic sectors.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, noted that the Tinubu administration had consistently prioritized food security and was committed to using both domestic policies and international partnerships to realise that goal.

“President Tinubu’s mandate on food security is clear and firm. With partnerships like this, especially in research and technical collaboration, we are confident of achieving food sovereignty,” Kyari said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Livestock Development, Dr. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, outlined three core areas of focus in the Nigeria-Brazil livestock partnership: disease and health management, sanitary services, and the development of improved breeds through advanced genetic research.

 From the subnational perspective, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State reiterated the commitment of state governments to the federal government’s agricultural transformation framework.

“We are prepared to align fully with President Tinubu’s agenda. The inclusion of a business forum in this state visit will inject new thinking, resources, and private sector energy into agriculture,” Abiodun said.

Other governors present at the meeting included Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, also participated in the closed-door meeting.