Sunday, July 6, 2025 - President Bola Tinubu has pledged to dismantle all bureaucratic barriers obstructing the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including livestock production, in a bid to achieve national food sovereignty and boost export capacity.
The President made this commitment during a bilateral
meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the Copacabana
Forte, alongside key cabinet members from both countries.
In a statement issued by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga,
Tinubu emphasised that excessive bureaucracy had delayed progress in unlocking
the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector. He affirmed that reforms
were already underway to reposition the economy for global competitiveness,
with a strong focus on agriculture, a sector where Nigeria holds a comparative
advantage.
“All technicalities in agreements between the two countries
will be streamlined and fast-tracked,” Tinubu said, referencing cooperation in
key areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural
development, mining, and natural resource exploration.
Tinubu also praised Brazil’s success in agricultural
research and development, noting its global reputation as one of the world’s
top food producers. He stressed the importance of forming strategic
partnerships to support Nigeria’s poultry, fisheries, and cattle-rearing
industries, adding that the blue economy presents significant opportunities for
long-term collaboration with Brazil.
He highlighted the role of state governments in
complementing federal efforts to transform agriculture into a major driver of
employment and economic growth.
Brazilian President Lula assured that all pending agreements
with Nigeria would be updated and formalised during President Tinubu’s next
visit. He acknowledged the need to remove bureaucratic obstacles to accelerate
progress, pledging to facilitate cooperation between Brazilian research
institutions and Nigeria in livestock farming.
Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reiterated
President Tinubu’s commitment to food security, noting that Nigeria’s edge in
fertiliser production could be leveraged through international partnerships.
Also speaking, Minister of Livestock Development, Idi
Mukhtar Maiha, outlined three core areas of collaboration with Brazil:
livestock health and disease management, sanitary services, and genetic
research for new breeds.
Governors present at the meeting included Hyacinth Alia
(Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori
(Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Other officials in attendance were
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Director General of the National
Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
Governor Abiodun affirmed the states’ readiness to support
the Federal Government’s agricultural reform agenda. He added that the
inclusion of a business forum in Tinubu’s state visit would inject new ideas
and investment into the sector, speeding up the delivery of tangible results.
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