Nigeria Strengthens Türkiye Agreements To Boost Trade And Security Cooperation

[Akinola Kholid]

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement its cooperation agreements with Türkiye in order to strengthen trade, security, and diplomatic relations between both countries. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known during a courtesy visit by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, at her office in Abuja. She explained that the partnership between Nigeria and Türkiye is important for national development and regional security.

The minister recalled that President Bola Tinubu visited Ankara on January 27, 2026, at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Erdoğan to deepen bilateral relations. During the visit, several agreements were signed by both countries in the presence of Nigerian ministers and the National Security Adviser. These agreements were aimed at improving cooperation in education, diplomacy, trade, and military support.

According to the minister, the agreements include cooperation in education, a partnership between Nigeria's Foreign Service Academy and Türkiye's Diplomacy Academy, and the creation of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee. Other agreements focus on military cooperation, halal quality infrastructure, media and communication, and social support for women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. She stressed that these agreements must move beyond paper and be properly implemented to benefit citizens.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also stated that President Tinubu has directed all relevant government agencies to prepare clear implementation plans for the agreements signed in Ankara. She added that both countries are expected to hold political consultations in Abuja later this year, which will further strengthen their partnership. The minister noted that Nigeria and Türkiye share similar views on global issues such as terrorism, climate change, migration, and international peace and security.

She further explained that trade relations between Nigeria and Türkiye are improving, with trade volume already close to $2 billion. The government is working towards increasing this to $5 billion through the Joint Economic and Trade Committee and other business partnerships. The recent trade forum in Ankara was designed to turn diplomatic discussions into real economic opportunities, especially in energy and agriculture sectors.

In his response, Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Poroy emphasized the importance of defence cooperation and counter-terrorism consultations between both countries. He said holding counter-terrorism discussions in Abuja would help both nations tackle security challenges more effectively. He also expressed confidence that the Joint Economic and Trade Council would strengthen economic ties and help Nigeria and Türkiye achieve their $5 billion trade target.

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