By Kunle Sanni –
President Bola Tinubu will on Monday, January 26, depart Abuja for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye as part of efforts to deepen diplomatic and economic relations between both countries, the presidency has announced.
According to a statement by the spokesperson to the President, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, the visit is expected to build on the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and Türkiye, with discussions focused on expanding cooperation in areas such as security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.
Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, last paid an official visit to Nigeria in October 2021, a trip that reinforced bilateral engagement between the two nations.
During President Tinubu’s visit, both countries are expected to hold high-level political and diplomatic talks centred on shared interests in finance, communication, trade and investment. The agenda also includes meetings between senior government officials and the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration and protocol.
A Nigeria–Türkiye business forum will also be held, bringing together investors from both countries to explore opportunities for partnership and investment.
Members of President Tinubu’s delegation participating in the bilateral engagements include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; and Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson.
Others on the delegation are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.
