President Bola Tinubu has pledged to eliminate all bottlenecks hindering Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, including those affecting livestock production, in a bid to achieve food sovereignty and enhance export capacity.

He gave the assurance during a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Copacabana Forte, where both leaders met alongside members of their respective cabinets.

According to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu blamed bureaucratic hurdles for the delays in unlocking the sector’s full potential. He noted that Nigeria was undertaking reforms to reposition its economy for global competitiveness, especially in agriculture, where it enjoys a comparative advantage.

“All technicalities in agreements between the two countries will be streamlined and fast-tracked,” the statement quoted Tinubu as saying. “These include areas such as trade, aviation, energy transition, food and agricultural development, mining, and natural resource exploration.”

The president commended Brazil’s research and development efforts, describing the country as a global leader in food and agricultural production.

On livestock, Tinubu said Nigeria was scaling up investment in poultry, cattle, and fisheries, while the emerging blue economy offers promising opportunities for long-term Nigeria-Brazil collaboration.

He affirmed Nigeria’s readiness for immediate partnership and action to stimulate food production, adding that state governments play a critical role in complementing federal efforts to make agriculture a key driver of employment and revenue generation.

President Lula assured that all pending agreements with Nigeria would be formalised, with updated Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed during President Tinubu’s next visit to Brazil.

He added that Brazil’s research institutions would work closely with Nigeria to strengthen livestock farming, and stressed the need to eliminate bureaucracy to achieve faster results.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said President Tinubu had consistently prioritised food security and that this mandate would be pursued through both local and international partnerships. He also noted Nigeria’s existing edge in fertiliser production.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Yola, highlighted three priority areas for collaboration with Brazil: livestock health and disease management, sanitary services, and research into genetic materials and new breeds.

Among the Nigerian delegation were Governors Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). Also in attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Ahmed.

Governor Abiodun reiterated the commitment of sub-national governments to support the Federal Government’s agricultural reform agenda. He said the inclusion of a business forum during Tinubu’s state visit would help unlock new investment and innovation in the sector.