Türkiye has set an ambitious goal to raise its bilateral trade with Nigeria from the current $2 billion to $5 billion.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, made this disclosure while highlighting agreements signed during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Türkiye, aimed at deepening cooperation across trade, investment, and other key sectors.
Speaking during a courtesy call to the Managing Director of Nigeria’s national news agency, the ambassador described trade and investment as the second most important pillar of Turkish-Nigerian relations.
Poroy explained that following the agreements, Türkiye is actively working to expand its investment portfolios in Nigeria to achieve the $5 billion trade target.
He noted that the two presidents had agreed on the $5 billion goal, and a joint declaration between the trade ministers would pave the way for the establishment of a joint economic and trade council to facilitate discussions and opportunities.
The envoy revealed that Türkiye already has investments worth about $400 million in Abuja alone, alongside major Turkish companies operating in southern Nigeria, highlighting the significant potential for further economic collaboration.
He also stated that Türkiye’s total investment in Africa stands at approximately $10 billion, emphasizing the importance of strengthening trade relations with Nigeria given its vast economic potential.
In addition, Poroy shared that efforts are underway to streamline visa procedures to enable smoother business exchanges between Nigerian and Turkish entrepreneurs.
He added that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TICA) plans to open an office in Abuja soon, aimed at boosting collaboration in education, healthcare, and other priority areas.
The ambassador also underscored the role of Turkish Airlines, which operates multiple weekly flights between Abuja and Istanbul, as vital to enhancing trade and people-to-people connections.
Responding, the MD of Nigeria’s national news agency welcomed the ambassador’s visit and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Turkish media partners.
He highlighted the agency’s evolution into a multimedia platform broadcasting in indigenous languages such as Hausa, with plans to expand into French, Arabic, and potentially Turkish, drawing inspiration from the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) model.
He added that past partnerships with Anadolu and other international agencies have been mutually beneficial, and expressed optimism that future collaborations would continue to enhance media exchange and capacity-building between the two countries.