President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to embark on a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye on Monday, January 26, as part of efforts to deepen diplomatic ties and broaden areas of bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Turkey.
Announcing the trip, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Revealed the visit is designed to consolidate existing ties and open new fronts of collaboration between Nigeria and Türkiye.
“The visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation and aviation,” he said.
During the visit, President Tinubu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold strategic political and diplomatic talks focusing on shared interests in finance, communication, trade and investment. High-level meetings between officials of both nations are also scheduled.
The president noted that “the agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding in scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others.”
A business forum will also be held to bring together investors from both countries to explore areas of mutual interest.
Members of the Nigerian delegation participating in this bilateral discussions include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson.
Others on the entourage are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
The visit follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official trip to Nigeria in October 2021, which strengthened diplomatic engagement between both countries.
President Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.