Nigeria, Turkey sign nine agreements to boost bilateral cooperation

By Abubakar Yunusa

Nigeria and Turkey on Wednesday signed nine agreements aimed at deepening bilateral relations in key sectors, as President Bola Tinubu continued his state visit to Ankara.

The agreements were signed by Tinubu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan after a closed-door bilateral meeting, attended by senior ministers and top government officials from both countries.

Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, confirmed that nine Memoranda of Understanding were exchanged during the visit.

Among the agreements is cooperation in the field of diaspora policy, defence cooperation, and a joint declaration establishing the Nigeria–Turkey Economy and Trade Joint Committee.

Others include an agreement on halal quality infrastructure, cooperation in higher education, education, and media and communication.

The two countries also signed an agreement on cooperation between Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy Academy and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service Academy.

In addition, there was an agreement on social development cooperation between Turkey’s Ministry of Family and Social Services and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

According to Turkish media reports, the media and communication agreement is designed to promote the exchange of information, expertise and best practices between Nigeria and Turkey.

The agreement also provides for joint seminars, workshops, training programmes and reciprocal visits by officials and experts in the broadcasting and communication sectors. It is expected to run for an initial period of three years.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Tinubu, President Erdoğan said Turkey was committed to achieving a $5bn trade volume target with Nigeria.

Erdoğan noted that discussions to expand trade and investment between both countries were already underway, adding that Turkey sees Nigeria as a strategic partner in Africa.

Tinubu, in his remarks, reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to strengthen economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with Turkey, stressing that the agreements would deliver mutual benefits to both nations.

The visit is part of Tinubu’s broader diplomatic engagements aimed at attracting foreign investment and repositioning Nigeria’s economy through strategic international partnerships.