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From Juliana Taiwo‑Obalonye, Abuja
Nigeria and Brazil on Monday announced concrete steps to open bilateral agro‑trade channels for Nigerian commodities, with Vice‑President Kashim Shettima saying the partnership has moved “from dialogue to delivery.”
Speaking at a High‑Level Nigeria–Brazil Agro‑Trade Market Access Milestone meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima, who co‑chairs the Nigeria‑Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism with Brazil’s Vice‑President, said the operational rollout of the bilateral agriculture and livestock partnership is underway and that private‑sector operators in both countries can now commence trade in the commodities covered by the initiative.
In a statement was by by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is quoted as saying: “We have moved with deliberate steps from dialogue to delivery, from agreements to implementation, and from shared ambition to outcomes that can be counted, weighed and shipped. This is precisely how enduring partnerships evolve,” Shettima said.
He said the milestones reported under the Nigeria‑Brazil Agriculture and Livestock Cooperation Framework are the result of months of disciplined collaboration between ministries, regulatory authorities, technical experts and private‑sector partners.
The Joint Agriculture and Livestock Technical Working Group, he noted, is now operational, with thematic action sub‑groups on dairy and livestock genetics, soybean productivity, agricultural policy and agro‑climatic risk zoning.
Shettima recalled that President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and subsequent discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prompted the directive to identify opportunities to accelerate trade, investment and technical cooperation between the two countries.
Shettima thanked Brazil for deepening its institutional presence in Abuja through the appointment of an agricultural attaché and increased engagement by EMBRAPA, saying those moves have quickened technical engagement and helped translate ideas into programmes.
Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André Carlos Alves de Paula Filho, who led the visiting delegation, said his ministry’s technical team is finalising a phytosanitary certificate proposal required to enable Nigerian exports of hibiscus, sesame and shea butter to Brazil.
“Once this work is completed, we will also facilitate contacts between Nigerian exporters and potential Brazilian buyers, creating concrete commercial opportunities for these products in the Brazilian market,” he said.
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, which the Vice‑President said supplies a significant share of Nigeria’s non‑oil exports, commended the partnership and pledged state support to ensure its success. “We will play our part to ensure the success of the Brazil‑Nigeria partnership,” he said.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said the agreement between President Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart is already fast‑tracking trade relations and described Brazil as a model of agricultural transformation.
The Vice‑President said the market access milestones announced are aimed at preparing farmers, cooperatives, processors and exporters to meet international standards and to add value domestically, leading to jobs, incomes and growth.
