Tinubu’s Trip to Turkey Yields Nine Bilateral Deals as Erdogan Eyes $5bn Trade with Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Turkey has culminated in the signing of nine bilateral agreements, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan outlined his country’s commitment to achieving a $5 billion trade volume with Nigeria. The discussions, held in Ankara, also touched on security cooperation, investment expansion, and broader economic partnerships.

Speaking at a joint press briefing with Tinubu, Erdogan said the establishment of a Joint Economy and Trade Committee would help create opportunities for Turkish investments in Nigeria to meet the ambitious trade target. He praised Tinubu’s determination to attract investment, noting the presence of several Nigerian ministers and high-ranking officials as a testament to the administration’s commitment.

“Today, we conducted a comprehensive review of our relations with the esteemed president and his delegation in trade, investments, energy, education, and the defence industry,” Erdogan said. “We see significant potential in trade and investment, and our commitment is to the target of $5 billion trade volume. We also discussed ways to support Turkish investments in Nigeria. The Joint Economy and Trade Committee we agreed to establish will be instrumental in this regard.”

Erdogan commended Tinubu’s strides in the energy sector, which have contributed to the restructuring of Nigeria’s economy. On security, the Turkish president emphasised his country’s readiness to support Nigeria in tackling terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region, citing Turkey’s own experience in counter-insurgency. “We stand by the people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism under President Tinubu’s leadership,” he said, adding that cooperation in military training and intelligence would be explored further.

In his remarks, Tinubu expressed gratitude to Turkey for its openness and collaboration, highlighting the importance of creating an inclusive economy that engages vulnerable populations. “What is very important is trade, business without restrictions, giving opportunities to those willing to learn, work, and prosper,” he said. The president also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peace and stability in Africa despite regional instability, praising Turkey’s efforts to promote peace in Somalia.

The nine agreements exchanged during the visit cover a wide range of areas:

Cooperation in the field of Diaspora Policy

Defence Cooperation

Joint Declaration Establishing Economy and Trade Joint Committee

Halal Quality Infrastructure

Cooperation in Higher Education

Cooperation in Media and Communication

Cooperation in Education

Collaboration between Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Diplomacy Academy and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cooperation between Turkey’s Ministry of Social Services and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development

The agreements signal a deepening partnership between the two countries, reflecting shared ambitions in trade, security, education, and social development, with both nations aiming to strengthen ties for mutual growth and stability.