“Every handshake is for Nigeria’s prosperity” – Tinubu defends foreign trips
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu explained yesterday that every one of his international engagements was motivated by the responsibility Nigerians entrusted to him in 2023 to restore Nigeria’s pride and dignity on the global stage.
He added that in line with the task, the foreign trips and his administration’s reform programmes were aimed at securing opportunities that would lead to growth, job creation and prosperity for all Nigerians.
The President stated this in a post on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, shortly after arrival from Japan and Brazil, said his engagements in the Asian and South American nations focused on unlocking critical investments.
He said: “It feels good to be back home in Nigeria after our recent engagements in Japan and Brazil. In 2023, you entrusted me with the responsibility of restoring our pride and dignity on the global stage, and I remain fully committed to that mission.
“Every handshake, every agreement, and every meeting is guided by one goal: to secure opportunities that translate into growth, jobs, and prosperity for Nigerians.”
READ ALSO: Tinubu embarks on 2-nation tour to Japan, Brazil, focusing on investment, bilateral partnerships
According to him, Japan offered new avenues in industry, technology, and human capital development, while Brazil opened up partnerships in trade, agriculture, aviation and finance.
He added that the meetings strengthened the confidence of Nigerian business leaders in the economy.
“This is the new Nigeria we are building together, a Nigeria built on sustainable reforms that will outlast us rather than one built on rhetoric. A Nigeria that is confident abroad, resilient at home, and determined to create value for every citizen, at home and in the diaspora,” President Tinubu declared.
Acknowledging the challenges on the path of the reform programmes, he expressed optimism that Nigeria’s best days lie ahead.
“The journey is not without challenges, but with unity of purpose and courage to reform, I firmly believe the best is on the horizon,” he concluded.
READ ALSO: Governor Buni urges Nigerians to pray for president Tinubu, security forces
President Tinubu’s three-day visit to Brazil was marked by the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering aviation, trade, science, diplomacy, and finance.
At a joint press conference in Brasília, he welcomed the imminent return of Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil giant, to Nigeria—five years after it halted its joint ventures.
The agreements also included a Bilateral Air Services Agreement, paving the way for direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace.
Other MoUs targeted political consultations, scientific collaboration, and agricultural financing through Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
Beyond the MoUs, President Tinubu underscored his administration’s economic reforms, assuring Brazilian investors of a stable, transparent financial climate.
The visit, which featured red-carpet honours, bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and cultural engagements, signalled what both leaders described as a new era in Nigeria–Brazil relations.
The President was first in Japan, where he participated in the ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9).
He was on arrivalat the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport the about 1:30 am, received by a high-powered delegation of political leaders and senior government officials.
Among them were Governors Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Abdul-Rahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara).
Others were House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; Budget and Economic Planning Minister, Abubakar Bagudu and Defence Minister, Bello Matawalle.
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