President Bola Tinubu on Thursday departed Yokohama, Japan, on an ultra-long-haul flight to Brazil, where he is scheduled to begin a state visit on 24 August.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu will make a brief stopover in Los Angeles before continuing to Brasília, the Brazilian capital.
The President began his two-nation tour on 15 August when he left Abuja. His entourage stopped in Dubai before arriving in Yokohama on 18 August.
During his stay in Japan, Tinubu attended the opening ceremony and plenary of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) on 20 August. He also held bilateral meetings and, on Thursday night, met with members of the Nigerian diaspora.
Earlier in the day, Tinubu engaged Nigerians living in Japan, urging them to support the government’s economic reforms and invest in their home country. He told the gathering of more than 4,000 Nigerians, organised under the Nigerian Union, that “Nigeria is now open for business.”
Read Also: Uganda agrees to take in people refused asylum by America
“You represent the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians back home and are also a source of economic prosperity,” Tinubu said, urging them to channel their resources and expertise into rebuilding the country.
Highlighting improvements in passport renewal and visa access, he assured the community that “things are changing for the better on the back of more efficient policies.”
He expressed delight that Nigerians in Japan had maintained a positive reputation: “I am very happy there have been no negative reports since we got here. Many of our people are returning home. For those who remain abroad, it is your right, but Nigeria needs your contribution. If you stay away, who will build it?”
The President stressed that stability and unity remain central to his administration’s agenda. “Nigeria, being the largest on the continent, has a crucial role to play. It is with you that we must play that role,” he said.
He added that the government is working to reverse medical tourism and create new growth opportunities: “I can assure you we are seeing the beginning of Nigeria rising.”
The interaction with the diaspora community marked the end of Tinubu’s engagements in Tokyo. He is expected to arrive in Brazil on Friday to commence his official visit.
