Federal Republic of Nigeria

Brazil and Nigeria maintain a traditional and diversified relationship, with a strong Nigerian influence in the Brazilian cultural and social formation. In the political sphere, bilateral relations have been intense since Nigeria's independence (1960). The Brazilian Embassy in Nigeria was inaugurated in 1961, and the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil was opened in 1966. Since 1999 there have been frequent exchanges of visits by high-level authorities of both countries, including visits by Heads of State.

As the largest economy and home to the largest population on the African continent, Nigeria is the  only country in West Africa – and one of the few in the world -  with which Brazil maintains a Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. The first session of the Mechanism was held in Brasília, in November 2013. On that occasion, bilateral work groups were created on topics such as agriculture, food security, and agrarian development; consular and legal affairs; defense; and trade and investment, among others.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2023 – Bilateral meeting between Foreign Ministers Mauro Vieira and Geoffrey Onyeama on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting, in New Delhi, India (March)

2022 – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar visits Brazil and meets with his Brazilian counterpart

2019 – Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo visits Nigeria. Nigeria's State Minister of  Industry, Trade and Investment Aisha Abubakar visits Brazil

2018 – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama visits Brazil

2017 – Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira visits Nigeria. The Brazil-Nigeria Business Forum is held in Lagos

2013 – President Dilma Rousseff visits Nigeria, when a Memorandum of Understanding is signed for the creation of a Bilateral Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru visits Brazil. Vice Presidents Michel Temer and Namadi Sambo chair the First Session of the Brazil-Nigeria Strategic Dialogue Mechanism, in Brasília

2012 – President Goodluck Jonathan visits Brazil on the occasion of the Rio+20 Conference. On the sidelines of the Conferece, he meets with President Dilma Rousseff. Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga visits Brazil

2010 – Bilateral Political Consultations Meeting. Signing of an Agreement on Defense Cooperation

2009 - President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua visits Brazil

2008 – State Minister of Trade Garba Bichi visits Brazil. Sixth Meeting of the Brazil-Nigeria Joint Commission, in Brasília

2007 - Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Umaru Mursa Yar'Adua meet in Berlin, on the sidelines of the G8 meeting

2006 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Oluyemi Adeniji visits Brazil. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Nigeria on the occasion of the Africa–South America Summit (ASA)

2005 - The Embassy of Brazil is transferred to Abuja, Nigeria's new capital. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Nigeria. President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo visits Brazil on the Brazilian  National Day

2000 -  Vice President Atiku Abubakar visits Brazil. Signing of an Agreement on Cultural and Educational Cooperation

1999 - President-elect Olusegun Obasanjo visits Brazil

1988 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ike Nwachukwu visits Brazil

1986 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Roberto Costa de Abreu Sodré visits Nigeria

1983 - President João Batista Figueiredo visits Nigeria

1981 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Ramiro Saraiva Guerreiro visits Nigeria; First Brazil-Nigeria Joint Commission Meeting

1979 - Vice President Shehu Yar'Adua and Minister of Energy Justin Tseayo visit Brazil. Signing of Basic Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation

1977 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Garba visits Brazil

1974 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Okoi Arikpo visits Brazil

1972 - Minister of Foreign Affairs Mário Gibson Barboza visits Nigeria

1966 – Creation  of the resident Embassy of Nigeria in  Brasília

1961 - Establishment of diplomatic relations. Creation  of the Embassy of Brazil in Lagos

1960 - Brazil recognizes the independence of Nigeria