President Bola Tinubu on Monday congratulated Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for winning an unprecedented fourth term, positioning the two countries as natural partners in trade, energy and efforts to strengthen the Global South’s influence in global affairs.
In a message personally signed, President Tinubu said Mr. Lula’s renewed mandate offered an opportunity to deepen the “longstanding friendship and historical ties” between Nigeria and Brazil, two of the world’s most populous democracies and leading economies in the Global South.
“As two leading nations of the Global South, we can promote economic integration and advance our shared interests in a rapidly changing global order,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu said he looked forward to expanding cooperation across trade and investment, agriculture and food security, energy, oil and gas, manufacturing, science and technology, education, aviation and cultural exchange.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with Brazil to strengthen multilateral cooperation and advance shared priorities in Africa, South America and across the Global South.
NewsQuest reports that Tinubu’s statement comes as Mr. Lula begins a fourth nonconsecutive term following a narrow runoff victory over Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court said Mr. Lula received 51.8% of valid votes, against 48.2% for his rival, a margin of roughly 4.4 million votes.
Mr. Lula’s victory preserves Brazil’s more independent foreign-policy orientation and its emphasis on closer ties with the Global South, including Africa, at a time when Latin America has been shifting politically to the right.
Nigeria and Brazil are major agricultural producers and energy exporters, while Brazil has longstanding interests in African markets, aviation, manufacturing and food security.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1961, and Mr. Tinubu described the relationship as historically rooted.
The Brazilian President is scheduled to begin his new term on Jan. 5, 2027, after defeating a challenger who has refused to concede and said he would seek to annul the result.
“On behalf of the people of Nigeria, I wish you a successful new term in office,” Tinubu said.
