Brazil, Nigeria hold strategic talks

Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer and his Nigerian counterpart Namadi Sambo met here Tuesday for strategic bilateral talks to bolster ties. At a press conference following the first session of their bilateral mechanism of strategic talks, the two leaders announced the creation of working groups to strengthen bilateral relations in security and defense, among other areas. They said they will sign an agreement to share intelligence, particularly on drug-related crimes. They also discussed the possible repatriation of 377 Nigerian prisoners convicted of a variety of crimes in Brazil, including drug trafficking. The two countries also hope to boost cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture and food security, consular and legal matters, mining, culture and energy. Sambo expressed Nigeria's interest in purchasing Brazilian-made Super Tucano airplanes, a move that would reduce Brazil's 5-billion-U.S. dollar trade deficit with the African nation. "Nigeria is Brazil's main trade partner on the African continent," Temer said, noting their two-way trade grew from 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2002 to 9.1 billion dollars in 2012. "At today's meeting, Nigeria offered opportunities to several Brazilian infrastructure and energy companies to work there," said Temer. Brazil is considering opening an office of Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development in Nigeria to increase Brazilian investment there. The Brazil-Nigeria mechanism for strategic talks was launched during Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's two-day visit to the African country in February.