In a landmark move to transform its economy, Nigeria and Brazil yesterday signed a $1 billion agreement to upgrade Nigeria’s agricultural, energy, food-security and defense sectors. The deal, inked during Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin’s visit to Abuja, underscores a deepening partnership between two of the world’s leading tropical-agriculture nations.
“Our goal is simple: move from subsistence to scale,” said Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the signing ceremony. “This partnership will deploy mechanized farming equipment, establish training academies and service centers in every region of Nigeria. In energy, we will unlock investment in gas production, refining and renewables—steps we’ve long needed.”
Under the agreement, Brazilian agritech firms will supply tractors, harvesters and precision-farming tools, while Nigerian extension services receive training in modern crop-management techniques. On the energy front, Petrobras and other Brazilian partners will join Nigerian operators to develop gas fields, upgrade refineries and explore solar and wind power projects.
Shettima credited President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda—spanning agriculture, energy, education and public finance—with reshaping Nigeria’s business climate and attracting foreign investors. “Thanks to these reforms, our banks are recapitalizing, and serious capital is now flowing in,” he said.
Brazil’s Vice-President Alckmin noted the two countries share a history of agricultural innovation. “Brazil’s journey from food importer to exporter was powered by technology and scale. We look forward to bringing that experience to Nigeria, so millions of farmers here can increase their yields and incomes.”
Nigeria aims to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030, and officials say the new alliance will play a crucial role. Agriculture currently employs nearly half of Nigeria’s workforce but accounts for just one-fifth of GDP; mechanization and modern supply chains promise to boost both productivity and exports.
Rural farmer Ibrahim Madaki, who attended a demonstration of Brazilian harvesters outside Abuja, said the machines would be “life-changing.” He expects his cassava and sorghum yields to at least double within two seasons, thanks to reduced labor costs and faster harvest times.
With formal defense cooperation also on the table—encompassing peacekeeping training and equipment exchange—the agreement signals a broad, long-term partnership. For Nigeria, the Brazil deal marks one of its largest single-country investments in recent memory and a significant step toward agricultural transformation and energy security.