President Bola Tinubu has touched down in Ankara, the capital city of the Republic of Türkiye, on an official state visit designed to further strengthen diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and the Eurasian nation.
The President departed Abuja on Monday at approximately 2:05 p.m. from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport before arriving at Ankara Esenboğa Airport at 9:03 p.m. local time.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, it was disclosed that Tinubu was formally received by a delegation from the Turkish government led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin.
He was also welcomed by Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, along with other officials of the Nigerian mission in the country.
The Presidency noted that the visit is aimed at reinforcing the already friendly relations between Nigeria and Türkiye while identifying new areas of collaboration that would promote a stronger and more rewarding partnership for both nations.
As part of the visit, President Tinubu is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for high-level bilateral talks.
The itinerary further includes the execution of several memoranda of understanding between Nigeria and Türkiye, in addition to other official state activities.
A business forum is also planned on the margins of the visit, bringing together investors from both countries to discuss trade opportunities and pathways for shared economic development.
Upon arrival at his hotel, the President was received by top Nigerian government officials, including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd).
Other senior officials present were the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh; the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson; the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after completing the state visit.
His last international engagement was in the United Arab Emirates, where he participated in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and finalized a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye underscores Nigeria’s renewed focus on strengthening strategic international partnerships.
Türkiye has become an important economic and diplomatic ally for Nigeria, particularly in trade, defence, infrastructure, and education. The state visit reflects Nigeria’s broader foreign policy agenda of attracting foreign investment, expanding export opportunities, and fostering technology and security cooperation.
The planned business forum highlights the administration’s emphasis on private-sector-led growth, while the signing of memoranda of understanding is expected to formalize new areas of collaboration that could yield long-term economic and developmental benefits for both countries.
