President Bola Tinubu says his administration will remove all barriers confronting Nigeria’s agricultural potential, particularly in livestock production, in a push towards food sovereignty and global exports. Tinubu made the pledge at a bilateral meeting with the Brazilian President, Lula da Silva, on Saturday at the Copacabana Forte in Brazil. This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja. According to the president, excessive bureaucracy had delayed progress in agriculture, and Nigeria was undertaking reforms to make the sector globally competitive. He described agriculture as a key area where Nigeria holds a natural competitive advantage that can be unlocked through smart partnerships. Tinubu assured Brazil that all technical bottlenecks in bilateral agreements would be removed to fast-track trade, energy, mining, and agricultural cooperation. ”All technicalities in agreements between the two countries will be streamlined and fast-tracked in trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, mining, and natural resources exploration,” Tinubu said. He praised Brazil’s agricultural research leadership, calling the South American giant a model in food production and export. Speaking on livestock, the president said Nigeria was scaling up investments in poultry, fisheries, and cattle rearing to boost food supply and job creation. He stated further that Nigeria’s blue economy offered strong potential for long-term collaboration with Brazil in marine and aquatic resources. The Nigerian leader called for immediate action, stating that both federal and state governments must act swiftly to drive food production nationwide. He stressed that state governments play a critical role in turning agriculture into a major source of employment and national revenue. Da Silva echoed Tinubu’s urgency, promising to regularise and update all agreements when Tinubu visits Brazil again. He called for the removal of bureaucracy and promised Brazil’s institutions would collaborate with Nigeria to improve livestock farming systems. Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to food security through strategic global and local partnerships. Kyari pointed to Nigeria’s edge in fertiliser production as a ready-made asset for agricultural growth. Also, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, identified three priority areas for Brazil-Nigeria cooperation; animal health, sanitation, and genetic research.
