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Türkiye has a special interest in Nigeria due to shared existential challenges in the fight against terrorism, Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Mehmet Poroy said.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Poroy said both countries face similar threats and have a shared interest in developing effective counterterrorism strategies.
“We have fought various terrorist organisations for years and gained significant experience and success. Nigeria is also fighting several terrorist organisations, primarily Boko Haram and ISWAP. Therefore, we want to support Nigeria in this area by sharing our experience, capabilities, and resources,” he said.
Poroy noted that Nigeria’s success in combating terrorism would be crucial to the stability of West Africa and the continent as a whole.
The ambassador said Türkiye has developed its defense industry to counter security threats domestically and in surrounding regions, enabling its armed forces to eliminate terrorist threats.
He said similar progress could be achieved in Nigeria through closer defense industry cooperation.
“We are working with our Nigerian counterparts to deepen military cooperation in this regard, as our president had expressed that we stand by Nigeria in its fight against terrorism,” Poroy said.
He added that, beyond supplying military equipment and critical systems, Turkish companies are collaborating with Nigerian authorities on joint local production of defense equipment in Nigeria.
Poroy also described Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Ankara from Jan. 27 to 28 as a milestone in Nigeria-Türkiye relations.
He said the visit marked the first bilateral presidential visit from Nigeria to Türkiye in nine years and the first since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Nigeria in 2021.
During the visit, nine agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed in areas including security, education, trade, media, halal accreditation, and population and diaspora policies.
Poroy said both sides confirmed their intention to implement the agreements swiftly and effectively. Cooperation in security and counterterrorism received particular emphasis, with Türkiye expressing readiness to provide necessary support at the highest level.
He added that relevant ministers discussed concrete steps to enhance military collaboration, including expanding joint local production facilities and supplying critical defense systems.
In the commercial sphere, the previously set bilateral trade target of $5 billion, established during Erdogan’s 2021 visit to Nigeria, was reaffirmed.
Poroy highlighted the signing of a Joint Declaration establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), which will address trade and investment obstacles institutionally once operational.
Three separate agreements in education were also signed, reflecting efforts to intensify cooperation. Poroy said approximately 3,500 Nigerian students studying in Türkiye strengthen bilateral ties.
He also noted an agreement between the Diplomacy Academy of Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry and Nigeria’s Foreign Service Academy, facilitating training programmes and exchange of experience for young diplomats.
The envoy said both countries also agreed to enhance cooperation and exchange information in the field of diaspora policies, describing the agreements as investments in the future of diplomatic relations.
Poroy recalled that relations date back to the 16th century, during contacts between the Ottoman Empire and the Kanem-Bornu Empire, and noted that Türkiye opened its embassy in Nigeria on Nov. 9, 1960, shortly after Nigeria gained independence, reflecting the longstanding importance attached to bilateral ties.
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