Turkish President Recep 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.
The Turkish President made this known on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu during the latter’s official visit to the Turkish capital. Ankara.
Erdogan emphasised 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 the two sides had 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 had reaffirmed their five billion dollars 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.
The Turkish President noted that the visit of President Tinubu, accompanied by many ministers and senior officials, reflected Nigeria’s strong political would deepen economic ties between both countries.
“Türkiye supports investments in Nigeria and welcomes cooperation between Turkish Petroleum Corporation, BOTAS (Turkish firm), and Nigerian energy firms,” he added.
Erdogan referenced Nigeria’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 was eager to strengthen investment and trade relations in this field.
Erdogan further highlighted that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TIKA) planned office opening in Abuja would 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.
Erdogan stressed that Nigeria was 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 dollars.
Erdogan also hosted a dinner in honour of Tinubu at the Presidential Complex, which attended by both countries’ delegations.(AA/NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
Edited by Mark Longyen
