Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs
Alkasim Abdulkadir, special assistant on media and communications strategy to Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, has credited his principal’s diplomacy for the revival of Nigeria–Brazil relations.
In a statement on Thursday, Abdulkadir said despite shared histories, cooperation slowed and projects between both countries stalled for nearly a decade.
On Monday, Nigeria and Brazil signed five landmark memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in Brasília, covering aviation, foreign affairs, science and technology, and the Bank of Agriculture.
The ceremony was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu and Luiz Lula da Silva, his Brazilian counterpart.
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Days after the meeting between both leaders, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said Petrobras, Brazil’s national oil company, expressed interest in exploring new areas in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NNPC said Udy Ntia, its executive vice-president of upstream, held a meeting with Magda Chambriard, chief executive officer (CEO) of Petrobras, on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.
The Brazilian president also endorsed Nigeria’s G20 bid and its push for a permanent UN security council seat.
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Abdulkadir said Tuggar had been diplomatically working behind the scenes prior to the milestones.
“His efforts have ensured that what might once have remained lofty aspirations are now anchored in actionable partnerships,” the minister’s media aide said.
He said Tuggar pushed for access to Brazil’s expertise in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, and insisted that air connectivity is the lifeblood of economic diplomacy, given the direct flight agreement between both states momentum.
“The challenge ahead will be follow-through,” Abdulkadir said, but added that Nigeria now has a framework robust enough to yield results.
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