Nigeria, Turkey Deepen Ties With Nine Strategic Agreements

Nigeria and Turkey have taken a major step toward strengthening bilateral relations with the signing of nine cooperation agreements covering defence, trade, media, education and diaspora affairs.

The agreements were signed on Tuesday in Ankara during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Turkey, following a closed-door bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

President Tinubu and President Erdoğan jointly endorsed the agreements, which were later exchanged by ministers and senior officials of both countries.

Confirming the development, Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, said the agreements were aimed at expanding collaboration across critical sectors of mutual interest.

The signed documents include agreements on diaspora policy cooperation, defence collaboration, and a joint declaration establishing the Nigeria–Turkey Economy and Trade Joint Committee (JETCO). Others cover cooperation in halal quality infrastructure, higher education, media and communication, as well as general education.

Also signed were cooperation frameworks between Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy Academy and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Service Academy, alongside an agreement between Turkey’s Ministry of Social Services and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Turkish media reports indicated that the media and communications agreement would enable the exchange of information, expertise and best practices between both countries. It also provides for joint seminars, workshops, training programmes and reciprocal visits for officials and professionals in the broadcasting and communications sectors. The agreement is expected to run for an initial period of three years.

On the economic front, President Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to achieving a $5 billion bilateral trade volume with Nigeria. He disclosed that discussions toward actualising the target were already underway.

The Turkish leader spoke at a joint press conference with President Tinubu, describing Nigeria as a key partner in Africa and expressing optimism about expanded economic and diplomatic engagement between both nations.

President Tinubu’s visit is expected to open new opportunities for investment, trade and institutional collaboration between Nigeria and Turkey.