ANKARA 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Türkiye stands with Nigeria in its fight against terrorism, expressing Ankara’s readiness to deepen cooperation in military training and intelligence.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Nigerian Head of State Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his official visit to the capital Ankara, Erdogan emphasized that under the leadership of Tinubu, Nigeria is taking firm steps against terrorism, and Türkiye stands by the Nigerian people in this struggle.

He also said that they reviewed “opportunities for closer cooperation” in the defense sector.

He said Nigerian officials also held meetings with Türkiye’s leading defense industry firms during the visit and expressed confidence that the outcomes of those talks would be positive.

“We are ready to share Türkiye’s significant experience in counterterrorism,” he said, noting that terrorist groups, particularly in Africa’s Sahel region, pose a threat to the continent’s stability.

Erdogan said the two countries reaffirmed their $5 billion trade volume target, exploring new steps to enhance bilateral economic ties.

He added that during the talks, they discussed concrete steps needed to reach that goal and welcomed the establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to support bilateral efforts.

He also noted that the visit of Tinubu, accompanied by many ministers and senior officials, reflected Nigeria’s strong political will to deepen economic ties.

“Türkiye supports investments in Nigeria and welcomes cooperation between Turkish Petroleum Corporation, BOTAS (Turkish firm), and Nigerian energy firms,” he added, pointing to the African country’s potential as the continent’s largest oil and gas producer.

He said that Nigeria holds a key role in restructuring Africa’s energy economy and Türkiye is eager to strengthen investment and trade relations in this field.

TIKA office in Abuja

Erdogan further highlighted that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TIKA) planned office opening in Abuja will contribute to Nigeria’s development cooperation efforts.

He underlined the significance of education in bilateral relations.

“We are pleased to host many Nigerian students in Türkiye,” Erdogan said, adding that a newly signed agreement would further strengthen educational cooperation.

He also expressed hope that the launch of Maarif Foundation activities in Nigeria would offer additional opportunities for the country’s youth.

Between 1992 and 2023, a total of 199 Nigerian students graduated through Türkiye scholarships, while 149 students are currently continuing their studies in Türkiye under the program.

He also welcomed the Nigerian delegation’s meetings with Türkiye’s leading defense firms during the visit.

9 agreements signed

During the visit, the two countries signed nine agreements and memoranda of understanding in areas such as diaspora policy, media and communication, higher education, halal accreditation, military cooperation, and diplomatic training.

They also signed an education cooperation agreement and a memorandum of understanding between the family and women’s affairs ministries.

Erdogan stressed that Nigeria is not only a friendly country but also one of Türkiye’s closest trade partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of over 230 million.

Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Nigeria were established on Nov. 9, 1960. In the first 11 months of 2025, bilateral trade volume reached $688.4 million.

More than 50 Turkish-owned companies operate in Nigeria, with total investments amounting to around $400 million. Turkish contractors have also undertaken projects in Nigeria with a total value nearing $3 billion.

Following the joint press conference, Erdogan hosted a dinner in honor of Tinubu at the Presidential Complex, attended by both countries’ delegations.