The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, says President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to Ankara marked a milestone in Nigeria–Türkiye relations.
Poroy made the remarks in Abuja, describing the Jan. 27–28 visit as the beginning of a new era in bilateral cooperation.
According to him, the visit demonstrated the strong political will of both countries to deepen relations across multiple sectors. He noted that it was the first bilateral presidential visit from Nigeria to Türkiye in nine years, and the first since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Nigeria in 2021.
“It is very important as it constitutes President Tinubu’s first visit to our country.
“During the visit, nine agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed in areas of security, education, trade, media, halal accreditation, population and diaspora policies,” Poroy said.
He added that both sides expressed a shared commitment to ensuring the swift and effective implementation of the agreements for mutual benefit.
The ambassador disclosed that meetings chaired by the two presidents focused on deepening cooperation, particularly in security and counter-terrorism efforts.
Türkiye, he said, reiterated its readiness to provide necessary support to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, with discussions highlighting closer military collaboration and potential joint local production in the defence industry, alongside the supply of critical defence systems.
On trade, Poroy noted that the two countries reaffirmed their $5 billion bilateral trade target, originally set during Erdoğan’s 2021 visit to Nigeria.
He described the signing of the Joint Declaration establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) as a major development.
“Once this Committee becomes operational, obstacles hindering the advancement of our trade and mutual investments will be addressed institutionally and effective solutions will be produced,” he said.
The envoy also highlighted three agreements signed in the education sector, reflecting both countries’ intention to expand academic cooperation.
He noted that about 3,500 Nigerian students currently studying in Türkiye serve as a strong bridge of friendship between the two nations.
Poroy further referenced an agreement between Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomacy Academy and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Service Academy, which will facilitate training exchanges for young diplomats from both countries.
“It was also agreed that information and experience would be exchanged, and cooperation enhanced in the field of diaspora between our countries, both of which have sizeable diaspora populations,” he said.
He described the agreements as significant investments in the future of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Türkiye.