By Kunle Sanni –
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has held bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Ankara, focusing on expanding trade, investment and security cooperation between both countries.
The meeting took place on Monday, hours ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s arrival in Turkey for a state visit. It marked Tuggar’s first official visit to the country since assuming office.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the discussions were described as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Turkey.
During the meeting, Minister Fidan commended Nigeria’s role in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in West Africa, noting the country’s leadership within regional and continental frameworks.
The statement said Tuggar emphasised the importance of expanding bilateral trade and boosting mutual investments, particularly in sectors attracting Turkish interest such as construction, manufacturing, energy and infrastructure.
Both ministers acknowledged the steady growth in economic relations between the two countries and stressed the need to unlock additional opportunities through structured engagement between the public and private sectors.
Security and defence cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions, aligning with the Nigerian presidency’s earlier indication that defence and security would be central to President Tinubu’s engagements in Turkey. The ministers explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in military and security affairs.
According to Abdulkadir, both sides expressed optimism about the prospects for stronger engagement, with a shared commitment to advancing political, economic, security and multilateral cooperation in the coming days.
