President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Saturday night following a successful state visit to the Republic of Türkiye, where Nigeria and Türkiye strengthened diplomatic, economic and security relations through high-level engagements and formal agreements.
The presidential aircraft arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 8:55 pm.
The President was received by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle; and other senior government officials.
During the visit to Ankara, President Tinubu held bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with both leaders committing to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, defence, energy and counter-terrorism.
At a joint press conference, President Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to increasing bilateral trade with Nigeria to 5 billion dollars, up from the current estimate of about 2 billion dollars.
He disclosed that discussions were already underway to achieve the target.
Erdoğan also announced plans to establish a Joint Economy and Trade Committee, describing it as a critical platform for expanding investment opportunities, boosting trade volumes and increasing Turkish business presence in Nigeria.
The Turkish leader praised President Tinubu’s economic reform agenda and efforts to attract foreign investment, noting that the size of the Nigerian delegation underscored strong political will to strengthen bilateral ties.
He welcomed reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector and expressed optimism about cooperation between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian institutions.
On security, Erdoğan pledged Türkiye’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region, offering enhanced collaboration in military training, intelligence sharing and defence industry partnerships.
In his response, President Tinubu thanked Türkiye for its commitment to advancing global stability and shared prosperity.
He emphasised the need for inclusive economic growth that integrates vulnerable populations into productive activity.
The President also commended Erdoğan’s role in promoting peace, especially in Somalia, and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional stability across Africa despite prevailing security challenges.
At the conclusion of the visit, officials from both countries exchanged nine agreements covering areas such as the Joint Economy and Trade Committee, defence cooperation, diaspora policy, halal quality infrastructure, higher education, media and communication, education, diplomatic training and social services.
The agreements are expected to strengthen institutional collaboration and deepen mutually beneficial relations between Nigeria and Türkiye.
