President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday departed Abuja for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye, in a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and the Eurasian nation.
The President left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 2:05 pm for the official engagement.
According to a statement earlier issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is designed to deepen cooperation between both countries in critical sectors such as security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.
Onanuga explained that the visit builds on the foundation laid during the official trip to Nigeria by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan between October 19 and 20, 2021, which significantly strengthened diplomatic relations between Abuja and Ankara.
While in Türkiye, President Tinubu is expected to participate in high-level political and diplomatic engagements centred on shared priorities in finance, communication, trade, and investment.
The visit will also feature bilateral meetings involving senior government officials from both countries, as well as the signing of several memoranda of understanding covering areas including scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration, and protocol.
A business forum has also been scheduled on the sidelines of the visit, bringing together Nigerian and Turkish investors to explore opportunities for mutual economic expansion, according to the presidency.
Accompanying the President are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson.
Other members of the delegation include the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the state visit.
What you should know
Nigeria and Türkiye have steadily expanded diplomatic and economic cooperation over the past decade, with growing ties in defence, trade, infrastructure, and aviation.
The state visit by President Tinubu signals Abuja’s intention to further leverage Türkiye’s strategic position and technical expertise to advance Nigeria’s development goals.
The signing of new MoUs and the business forum are expected to open fresh investment channels, strengthen bilateral trade, and enhance collaboration in security and innovation, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader foreign policy and economic diversification agenda.
