Nigeria and Türkiye have agreed to pursue a bilateral trade volume of 5 billion dollars as both countries signed nine cooperation agreements covering defence, trade, education and other strategic sectors.
The agreement was reached on Tuesday during a joint press briefing by President Bola Tinubu and his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as part of Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to Ankara.
President Erdoğan said the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations in areas including trade, investment, energy, education and the defence industry, noting that both countries possess significant untapped potential.
He announced the decision to establish a Joint Economy and Trade Committee, which he said would play a critical role in expanding Turkish investments in Nigeria and achieving the 5 billion dollar trade target.
“We discussed steps that need to be taken to reach our trade volume target and how to support our investments in Nigeria,” Erdoğan said.
The Turkish leader commended reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector, expressing optimism that cooperation between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian partners would yield positive outcomes.
On security cooperation, Erdoğan pledged Türkiye’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region, offering to share his country’s experience in counter-insurgency, military training and intelligence.
In his remarks, President Tinubu welcomed Türkiye’s commitment to deeper collaboration, stressing the need for open trade, inclusive economic growth and opportunities for vulnerable populations.
Tinubu said Nigeria would continue to play its role in promoting peace and stability across Africa despite prevailing security challenges.
Both leaders witnessed the signing of nine agreements, including cooperation on defence, diaspora policy, higher education, media and communication, halal quality infrastructure, social services, and the establishment of the Joint Economy and Trade Committee.
