Tinubu Defends Foreign Trips, Says Deals with Japan, Brazil Secure Jobs, Prosperity for Nigeria

Upon returning from official visits to Japan and Brazil, President Bola Tinubu has stated that his international engagements are crucial to restoring Nigeria’s global standing and fulfilling the mandate given to him by voters.

In a post on his X account, the President framed every diplomatic interaction as a strategic step toward national benefit. “Every handshake, every agreement, and every meeting is guided by one goal: to secure opportunities that translate into growth, jobs, and prosperity for Nigerians,” he wrote.

He emphasized that his objective is to build “a Nigeria that is confident abroad and resilient at home,” detailing the outcomes of the trips. His discussions in Japan focused on attracting new investments in technology, industry, and human capital development. In Brazil, partnerships were advanced in key sectors like trade, agriculture, aviation, and finance.

A significant achievement from the trips was the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding, including a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Brazil. Tinubu described these efforts as part of building “a new Nigeria… on sustainable reforms that will outlast us rather than one built on rhetoric.”

The BASA agreement received immediate praise from industry leaders. Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, hailed it as a “milestone achievement” and announced that the airline would begin operating three weekly flights to Brazil starting in November, with plans to expand to Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. “Most of his trips abroad have started paying dividends for the good of our nation,” Onyema stated.

Echoing this sentiment, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, noted the agreement would enhance business relations and benefit Nigeria’s sizable diaspora community in Brazil. He also highlighted the strengthening bilateral relationship, noting that the meeting was the fourth between Tinubu and Brazilian President Lula da Silva since last year.

The agreements signed in Japan are projected to bolster trade relations by over $1 billion annually.

Acknowledging the nation’s challenges, President Tinubu concluded with a message of optimism: “The journey is not without challenges, but with unity of purpose and courage to reform, I firmly believe the best is on the horizon.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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