The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and his Brazilian counterpart, Mr José Múcio Monteiro Filho, on 25 August 2025, held a high-level bilateral meeting on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.
The meeting focused on strengthening defence relations, advancing defence-industrial cooperation, and enhancing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, among other defence-related issues.
Also in attendance was Gen. Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
Badaru underscored Nigeria’s commitment to the full implementation of the Nigeria-Brazil Defence Agreement signed on 24 June 2025.
He described the agreement as a strategic instrument for expanding collaboration, deepening technology transfer, and building industrial partnerships.
He stressed that effective implementation is essential for both nations to maximise the value of the partnership, particularly in developing Nigeria’s local defence production capacity.
He also underscored that closer collaboration on maritime awareness, joint exercises, and interoperability will help both countries protect vital sea routes and grow their blue economies.
Badaru said, “Nigeria is determined to build a resilient defence industry that reduces dependence on imports and positions our country as the defence-industrial hub in Africa”.
He also commended Brazil’s support in securing the Gulf of Guinea, a maritime corridor central to Nigeria’s economic lifeline, and acknowledged its constructive role in advancing the objectives of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS).
The engagement reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a forward-looking partnership with Brazil, reinforcing bilateral ties and Nigeria’s leadership in regional and transatlantic security cooperation, according to a statement by Mati Ali, Personal Assistant, Media & Publicity to the Minister.
