Nigeria, Türkiye foreign ministers hold talks in Ankara

Talks focus on trade, security ties ahead of Tinubu’s planned state visit

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Nigeria and Türkiye moved to deepen diplomatic, economic and security cooperation on Monday as the foreign ministers of both countries held high-level talks in Ankara, signalling renewed momentum in bilateral relations ahead of a planned state visit by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, met with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, during what marked Tuggar’s first official visit to Türkiye since assuming office. The talks focused on expanding collaboration across political, economic, defence and multilateral fronts, officials said.

Peace Magazine learned that the meeting also formed part of preparatory engagements ahead of President Tinubu’s anticipated state visit to Türkiye, with both sides expressing confidence in stronger engagement in the months ahead.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Tuggar’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Nigerian minister reaffirmed Abuja’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Ankara, describing relations between the two countries as increasingly multi-dimensional.

During the meeting, Tuggar called for expanded bilateral trade and greater mutual investment, particularly in sectors attracting Turkish interest, including construction, manufacturing, energy and large-scale infrastructure development. He said structured engagement between the public and private sectors could unlock further economic potential.

Fidan, according to the Nigerian side, praised Nigeria’s role in promoting stability and economic growth in West Africa and acknowledged Abuja’s leadership within regional and continental institutions. Both ministers agreed that cooperation between their countries had grown steadily and should now be scaled up.

Security and defence cooperation also featured prominently in the talks. The ministers discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in military affairs and defence-industry partnerships, building on existing cooperation that supports Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism and transnational crime.

“This meeting reflects the growing strategic character of Nigeria–Türkiye relations,” Tuggar said, adding that both countries shared common positions on sovereignty, institutional cooperation and pragmatic partnerships.

While Turkish officials did not release details of the discussions, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting and described it as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties between Ankara and Abuja.

Nigeria and Türkiye have maintained diplomatic relations since 1960, with ties expanding significantly in recent years. Nigeria has emerged as Türkiye’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $700 million in the first 11 months of 2025.

More than 50 Turkish companies currently operate in Nigeria, with investments estimated at about $400 million, while Turkish contractors have executed projects valued at nearly $3 billion, particularly in construction and infrastructure.

Beyond trade and security, both countries have also strengthened people-to-people relations through education and cultural exchanges. Under Türkiye’s government scholarship programme, nearly 200 Nigerian students have graduated from Turkish institutions since the early 1990s, with more than 140 Nigerians currently studying in the country.

With additional information from NAN

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