President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Tuesday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to achieving a $5 billion trade volume with Nigeria, noting that discussions toward the target had already begun.
Erdogan made the remark in Ankara during a joint press briefing with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is on a state visit to Türkiye.
The Turkish leader said the planned establishment of a Joint Economy and Trade Committee would create opportunities to expand and support Turkish investments in Nigeria, describing it as a key mechanism for reaching the $5 billion target.
He commended President Tinubu’s commitment to attracting investment, noting that the presence of several Nigerian ministers and senior officials underscored that determination.
According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Erdogan said: “Today, we conducted a comprehensive review of our relations with the esteemed president and his delegation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, education and the defence industry.
“Firstly, we see significant potential in trade and investment. In today’s meetings, we reaffirmed our commitment to a $5 billion trade volume and discussed the steps required to achieve it.
“We also explored opportunities to support our investments in Nigeria. We believe the Joint Economy and Trade Committee, which we agreed to establish today, will be instrumental in this regard.”
Erdogan further praised Tinubu’s reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector, noting that they had contributed to the restructuring of the economy, and expressed optimism that collaboration between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian counterparts would deliver the expected outcomes.
On security, the Turkish President pledged support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region.
“Terrorist organisations, particularly in Africa’s Sahel, pose a threat to the peace of the entire continent. We stand by the people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism under President Tinubu.
“Today, we discussed opportunities for closer cooperation in military training and intelligence sharing. Türkiye is ready to contribute its experience in counter-terrorism. We also expect positive outcomes from the meetings between Nigerian officials and our leading defence industry companies,” he said.
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President Tinubu commended Türkiye for its openness and willingness to collaborate in promoting global freedom, stability and prosperity, while stressing the importance of building an inclusive economy that supports vulnerable groups.
He said: “What matters for both countries is trade and business without restrictions, giving opportunities to those willing to work and prosper. How do we build an inclusive economy together? How do we reform to include vulnerable groups and ensure global peace?”
Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peace and stability in Africa despite regional insecurity, noting that both leaders discussed joint efforts against terrorism.
“We discussed efforts to defeat agents of destabilisation and promote regional security,” he said, also praising Erdogan’s role in advancing peace, particularly in Somalia.
At the conclusion of the bilateral meeting, nine agreements were exchanged, including: Cooperation in Diaspora Policy; Defence Cooperation; Establishment of the Joint Economy and Trade Committee; Halal Quality Infrastructure; Higher Education; Media and Communication; Education; Collaboration between the Foreign Affairs Academies of both countries; and Cooperation between Türkiye’s Ministry of Social Services and Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
