By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigeria has announced plans to fully implement several cooperation agreements signed with Turkey, following diplomatic engagements between both countries earlier in 2026.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a courtesy visit by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy.
According to the minister, the move aims to strengthen bilateral relations and ensure that agreements reached during the official visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to Ankara on January 27, 2026, translate into real benefits for both nations.
Tinubu had travelled to Turkey at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation.
During that visit, the Nigerian delegation, which included several ministers and the National Security Adviser, witnessed the signing of multiple agreements covering education, trade, diplomacy, defence, media cooperation, and social welfare.
Key outcomes included a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria’s Foreign Service Academy and Turkey’s Diplomacy Academy, as well as a Joint Declaration establishing a Joint Economic and Trade Committee.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the Federal Government has directed all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to submit clear implementation roadmaps for the agreements.
She stressed that the purpose of the MoUs is not merely documentation but practical action that will improve economic opportunities and strengthen cooperation between both countries.
She also noted that Nigeria and Turkey share similar views on addressing global challenges such as terrorism, climate change, migration, and international security.
According to her, both nations also support reforms that will make global governance systems more inclusive.
On the economic front, she revealed that trade between Nigeria and Turkey has continued to grow steadily, with the total volume approaching $2 billion when informal trade is included.
The government hopes the newly activated Joint Economic and Trade Committee will help remove trade barriers and encourage stronger private-sector collaboration.
The minister added that the January 2026 trade forum in Ankara aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform diplomatic relations into economic opportunities.
Nigeria is targeting a $5 billion bilateral trade volume with Turkey in the coming years.
Ambassador Poroy, in his remarks, highlighted ongoing defence cooperation and called for counter-terrorism consultations in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that continued collaboration and the activities of the Joint Economic and Trade Council would further strengthen ties between the two nations.
