President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, after a two-week diplomatic trip to Japan and Brazil. According to a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president arrived at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 1:30 am on Thursday. He was received by top government officials upon his arrival.
The president’s trip began with a visit to Japan, where he attended the ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, also known as TICAD9. This conference aims to promote African development through international cooperation. Following his participation in the conference, President Tinubu traveled to Brazil to strengthen relations between Nigeria and Brazil.
During his visit to Brazil, the two countries signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) covering various sectors, including energy, agriculture, and security. These agreements are expected to enhance cooperation and collaboration between Nigeria and Brazil in these areas. The presidential jet departed from Brasília International Airport Air Force Base at 12:57 pm local time, with Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, and the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Carlos José Areias Moreno Garcete, present to bid farewell to the president.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other government officials were also at the airport to see off the president. The visit to Brazil underscores the importance of strengthening diplomatic ties between Nigeria and other countries to promote economic growth and development. With the signing of the MoU, both countries are poised to explore new areas of cooperation, which could lead to mutual benefits and increased collaboration in the future. President Tinubu’s return to Abuja marks the end of his diplomatic trip, during which he engaged in high-level discussions and negotiations to promote Nigeria’s interests abroad.