Nigeria and Türkiye have set an ambitious target of achieving a $5 billion bilateral trade volume, following the signing of multiple strategic agreements between both nations.
The commitment was announced in Ankara during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Türkiye, where he held high-level talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation across key sectors, including trade, defence, energy, education, investment, and security.
President Bola Tinubu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during bilateral talks in Ankara to strengthen Nigeria–Türkiye trade and defence cooperation.
Speaking at a joint press briefing, President Erdogan said both countries had agreed on concrete steps to deepen economic ties and expand investment flows. A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to establish a Joint Economy and Trade Committee, which will serve as a formal platform for driving business partnerships and attracting Turkish investments into Nigeria.
According to Erdogan, the bilateral talks involved a wide-ranging review of relations between the two countries, covering commerce, industrial development, defence industries, energy cooperation, and educational exchange. He described the $5 billion trade target as realistic, noting that both governments are committed to removing barriers and creating a more enabling business environment.
The Turkish leader also praised Nigeria’s ongoing energy sector reforms, expressing confidence that partnerships between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian energy institutions would deliver positive long-term outcomes.
On regional security, Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and insurgency, particularly within the Sahel region. He pledged deeper cooperation in military training, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism strategy, offering Türkiye’s experience in combating extremist threats.
President Tinubu, in his response, welcomed Türkiye’s commitment to partnership, stressing the importance of building an inclusive economic system that creates opportunities for vulnerable populations. He emphasised the need for open trade, skills development, and policies that allow citizens to participate actively in economic growth.
Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued role in promoting peace and stability across Africa, despite ongoing security challenges in parts of the continent.
As part of the visit, both leaders witnessed the signing of nine bilateral agreements, covering critical areas such as diaspora policy, defence cooperation, halal quality standards, higher education, media and communication, diplomacy training, women affairs, social development, and the formal establishment of the Nigeria–Türkiye Joint Economy and Trade Committee.
The agreements signal a new phase in Nigeria–Türkiye relations, with both countries positioning themselves for stronger economic integration, security collaboration, and long-term strategic partnership.
