Bilateral Relations: Tuggar Receives High-Level Brazilian Delegation.

By Helen Udo, Outlook Media, ABUJA.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf M. Tuggar, welcomed a high-level delegation from Brazil led by the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira Mauro, at the Minister’s Conference Room on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Abuja.

The discussions centered on strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Brazil, focusing on key areas such as the economic, infrastructure development, agriculture, and energy.

Ambassador Tuggar highlighted the historical ties between the two nations, noting that Brazil was the only Latin American country that attended Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960.

“This visit is a continuation of our efforts to strengthen the bond between our two countries,” Ambassador Tuggar stated. “We warmly welcome you and your delegation, and we are pleased to have you here in Abuja. We share much in common, from our economies and population to our cultural heritage. This visit is a natural progression of our partnership.”

He also referenced President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Brazil in 2024, where he attended the G20 Summit and engaged in efforts to deepen bilateral relations.

Ambassador Mauro Vieira expressed his appreciation for Nigeria’s hospitality, saying, “It is a pleasure to visit Nigeria, and I extend my congratulations to you on your birthday today. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the friendship between Brazil and Nigeria on this special day. We deeply appreciate the warm reception and hospitality we have received.”

He recalled his previous meetings with Ambassador Tuggar, including their first encounter in late 2023 in Dubai on the sidelines of COP28, as well as the 2024 meeting between Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

“We were very pleased that President Tinubu attended the G20 Summit in Brazil last November. Nigeria’s contributions to the G20 are highly valued, and we hope President Tinubu will visit Brazil again soon. President Lula is eager to receive him for an official visit in the near future,” Vieira said.

He emphasized the importance of ongoing consultations between the two foreign ministries, stating, “This visit serves as a crucial follow-up to our previous engagements. Since President Lula took office in January 2023, we have been working to strengthen our strategic dialogue and explore deeper cooperation in various areas, including culture, the economy, education, and other sectors.”

Vieira also highlighted the close ties between Nigerians and Brazilians, acknowledging Nigeria’s influence on Brazilian society and culture. “We are grateful for this opportunity to further develop our bilateral relations. Thank you once again for hosting us,” he concluded.

The Brazilian delegation accompanying Amb. Vieira Mauro included representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscoring the significance of the visit in fostering diplomatic, economic, and cultural collaborations between the two nations.