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Nigeria, Brazil show interest in business engagement in Aviation, Maritime Industries

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Nigeria, Brazil show interest in business engagement in Aviation, Maritime Industries

Nigeria, Brazil show interest in business engagement in Aviation, Maritime Industries

Nigeria and Brazil are likely to go into bilateral relations in the aviation and maritime industries as both countries on Monday indicated interest to do business in these fields.

Speaking at the Brazil-Nigeria Aviation and Defence Trade Forum in Abuja on Monday, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao said the Nigeria Air Force is ready to do business with Brazil to improve it’s capacity to dislodge terrorism and insurgency from the country.

Amao, who was represented at the occasion by Air Vice Marshal Moses Onilede said the recent procurement of the Super Tucano fighter jets by Nigeria has changed the narrative in the ongoing war against terrorism and insurgency in the country, insisting that the military would want this continued.

He said the military would be interested in getting easy access to spare parts for the Super Tucano and to get them maintained from time to time and since the fighter jets are originally Brazilian, they would be ready for collaboration with Brazil in this regard.

He also said the Air Force would be ready to collaborate with Brazil in the area of training especially of engineers for proper maintenance of the Super Tucano and is also ready to purchase other fighter jets from the South American country.

Also expressing the interest of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to do business with Brazil, the Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Prof. Mansur Matazu said for the agency to perform optimally it needs to invest heavily in technological that does not come cheap and considering the economic situation the entire burden cannot be laid on the government and as such it was ready to look for investor.

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Matazu, who was represented by agency’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Sani Aliyu said NIMET is open to direct investment from Brazil, insisting that the investment is highly profitable and would yield investors good return on investment.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria, Ricardo Guerra de Araujo said Brazil and Nigeria share a longstanding human, cultural and historical relations and play an important economic role in their  respective regional context, stressing that: “In terms of size and economy, potentials, Brazil is the first GDP in Latin America and has also the largest population in the South American continent, just like Nigeria which have the biggest GDP and population in Africa.”

He noted that: “While there are countless business and economic opportunities in Nigeria, there are also important challenges, particularly concerning the need of a more efficient infrastructure.

“Civil aviation and defense products remain, however, two outstanding strategic opportunities for international investment and trade.”

He acknowledged that some of the main factors driving defense spending include the threat posed by insurgency and terrorism and also the rising levels of illicit activities and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea off the Nigerian coast, through which more than 90 % of Nigerian international trade is done, adding that: “The milestone here is that without security there cannot be investment, without investment there cannot be growth and employment and without growth and employment there cannot be development and social welfare.”

He noted that with that with ITIA estimating that Africa will become one of the fastest-growing regions for aviation over the next 20 years, expanding annually at 5%, “Nigeria is in the pole position to grab a good slice of this staggering growth as a leading economic hub in the West Coast of Africa and in the continent, thanks to companies like Air Peace.”

He revealed that: “The aim of this forum today is to promote and put forward opportunities in the aviation and defense products sectors between Brazil and Nigeria by providing networking opportunities and avenues for the development of bilateral trade and investment possibilities.”

Nigeria, Brazil show interest in business engagement in Aviation, Maritime Industries

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AT SENEGAL’S 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY:Nigeria Hails Strategic Relationship As Key To West African Stability, Economic Growth

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AT SENEGAL’S 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY:
Nigeria Hails Strategic Relationship As Key To West African Stability, Economic Growth

** Seeks deeper cooperation in trade, security, democracy

By: Our Reporter

The Nigerian government has described its relationship with Senegal as a strategic partnership built on a foundation of shared history, democratic values and economic interdependence.

This followed Vice President Kashim Shettima’s presence at Senegal’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar on Friday.

VP Shettima had represented President Bola Tinubu at the event where President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal played host to guests from across Africa and beyond.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event in Dakar, Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said there were very strong bilateral ties between Nigeria and Senegal, noting that both countries achieved independence in 1960 and have maintained shared commitments to democratic governance and regional security.

Also on Nigeria’s delegation was Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“Senegal and Nigeria have very strong bilateral ties. This has been as a result of our shared history and circumstances—both countries attained independence at about the same time in 1960,” the Minister stated.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasised the need for continued collaboration in democracy, trade, and security between the two countries.

She said, “Both countries have remained committed to deepening democratic governance, values, and constitutional governance in the African continent. We have also jointly remained committed in the fight against terrorism and building strong regional institutions.”

The Minister revealed that Senegal accounts for 68.7% of Nigeria’s exports within the ECOWAS market—an indicator of Nigeria’s central role in regional trade.

“Senegal takes 68.7% exports from Nigeria within the ECOWAS market,” she disclosed, describing the statistic as a reflection of “mutually beneficial economic cooperation.”

The Minister also pointed to sustained high-level engagement, noting that “the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye was in Nigeria last year to meet with our President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to talk about areas of collaboration and cooperation.”

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed optimism about the future of the Nigeria-Senegal partnership, expressing hope that both nations will “continue deepening this economic relationship and enhance” their relationship across all sectors.

The event was attended by several foreign dignitaries, including Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

In his national address at the event, President Faye applauded Senegal’s democratic maturity, reaffirming his commitment to deeply transforming the country.

“Now more than ever, we must harness this driving force to correct what needs fixing and to give shape to the aspirations of our people and the hopes of our youth,” Faye said.

These reforms, he said, include optimizing local finances, ensuring budgetary transparency, rationalizing public spending, and managing debt efficiently to safeguard fiscal sustainability.

AT SENEGAL’S 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY:
Nigeria Hails Strategic Relationship As Key To West African Stability, Economic Growth

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VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary

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VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has departed Abuja for Dakar, Senegal, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the country’s 65th Independence Day Anniversary celebrations.

Senegal celebrates its Independence Day on April 4 each year, commemorating its freedom from French colonial rule in 1960. The day is marked by national pride, with ceremonies, parades and cultural events.

The Vice President’s attendance at the annual event is in honour of an invitation extended to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, following the strong mutual relationship between Nigeria and Senegal.

The independence Day celebrations will be held at the Place de la Nation in Dakar, with President Faye playing host to Vice President Shettima and other distinguished guests from across Africa and beyond.

The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria tomorrow after the one-day event.

VP Shettima Departs Abuja For Dakar To Represent President Tinubu At Senegal’s 65th Independence Anniversary

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President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

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President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

  • Tasks Nigerians on constructive criticism of government actions, policies

By: Our Reporter

Wife of Nigeria’s Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, has scored the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu very high, saying the President is building a better Nigeria for Nigerians through his laudable economic policies, various empowerment initiatives and investments in key sectors of the economy.

And to help the President secure a better future for all Nigerians, the VP’s wife also encouraged the citizens not to relent in giving very useful advice to the government, urging them to be more constructive in their criticism of the administration instead of just attacking for political reasons.

Hajiya Nana Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, during the annual Ramadan feast, which had in attendance women groups and students

Emphasizing the determination of the Tinubu administration to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, she said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is baking a new cake for us that are alive today, and for the Nigerian children and grandchildren that are coming behind us. It is who he is ably supported by our lovely First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.”

Hajiya Nana Shettima noted that the President means well for the people of Borno State as well as Nigerians in all parts of the country, even as she urged the citizens to always pray for President Tinubu and members of his cabinet.

“I can tell you that he (the President) means well, not only for Borno people but for the entire nation. We should not forget him and his subordinates in our prayers,” she added.

She further commended the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her contributions towards actualizing the agenda of the administration, especially through the Renewed Hope Initiative which she said has impacted many lives, including women, children and people with disabilities.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, Abuja, Dr Asabe Bashir, admonished women and the people of Borno State to imbibe the teachings of the just concluded Ramadan.

She also sought the people’s support and prayers for President Tinubu, thanking the President for picking his deputy from Borno State.

She said, “I always reiterate the importance of prayer because without prayers we can do nothing in life. We have just come out of Ramadan; let us imbibe that culture and lessons we received during the 29-day fast. We need to continue with the spiritual reflection.

“We should thank God and President Bola Tinubu for remembering the people of Borno State again by bringing the seat of the Vice President, not just to the North-East region but to Borno State after Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was elected along with the late Chief MKO Abiola so many years ago.

“We must continue to pray for the administration of President Bola Tinubu because if it succeeds, we succeed,” Dr Bashir added.

On his part, the Speaker, Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Tijjani Abubakar, thanked President Tinubu for his support to Nigerian youths through various youth empowerment initiatives.

Also, Dr Martins Ekunke, who spoke on behalf the South-South, Yoruba and Igbo communities residing in Borno State, commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for galvanizing support for people living with HIV/AIDS through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative.

Among those that attended the annual Sallah feast hosted by Hajiya Shettima, were the wife of the Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Maryam Lawan; wife of the Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Hajiya Laure Musa-Askira; female Commissioners and political appointees.

Also in attendance were women groups, members of the Borno State chapter of the Nationals Association of Nigerian Students, as well as the leaders of South-South, Igbo and Yoruba communities residing in Borno State, among others.

President Tinubu Laying Foundation For A Better Nigeria, Says Hajiya Nana Shettima

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