President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to restoring Nigeria’s pride and dignity on the global stage, following official visits to Japan and Brazil.

In a post shared on X Thursday, Tinubu expressed satisfaction at what he called fruitful engagements with leaders and investors abroad.

“It feels good to be back home in Nigeria after our recent engagements in Japan and Brazil. 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 said.

According to him, discussions in Japan deepened ties in industry, technology, and human capital, while meetings in Brazil centered on cooperation in trade, agriculture, aviation, and finance. He also met with Nigerian business leaders overseas, urging renewed confidence in the domestic economy.

“This is the new Nigeria we are building together. A Nigeria that is confident abroad, resilient at home, and determined to create value for every citizen,” Tinubu said.

The presidential jet returned to Abuja early Thursday morning from Brasília, after departing Brazil on Wednesday afternoon, his spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed.

But the trip has not been without criticism. Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the Brazil visit as “a waste of Nigeria’s scarce resources.”

He argued that Tinubu traveled in search of ideas already captured in the SDP manifesto, citing Brazil’s Bolsa Familia welfare program that cut poverty by 27 percent in four years under former President Lula da Silva.

“The economic policy of President Tinubu is the opposite of the one that has succeeded in Brazil. By going there, he may realize how wrongheaded his own policies are. But I am not happy he spent so much money when the answers are here,” Adebayo said.

Adebayo noted that Tinubu, once a member of the SDP, could have drawn inspiration locally instead of “touring Brazil in awe of policies that Nigeria has long needed.”