Nigeria and Türkiye have agreed to speed up cooperation in trade, energy and defence as part of efforts to boost investment, job creation and economic growth in both countries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the agreement during his state visit to Ankara, following talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In a post on his official X account on Tuesday, Mr Tinubu said the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and delivering practical economic benefits for citizens of both nations.
The Nigerian president said both leaders agreed to expand trade between their countries and remove barriers limiting business growth. He added that Nigeria and Türkiye are targeting a trade volume of five billion dollars.
“Our discussions were practical and forward-looking,” Mr Tinubu said, listing trade, energy, education, defence cooperation, and security as key areas of focus.
As part of the agreements, both countries have established a Joint Economy and Trade Committee to oversee implementation and attract new investments. Mr Tinubu said the committee would also support industrial development, technology transfer and increased private-sector participation.
The Nigerian president welcomed Türkiye’s recognition of Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, particularly in the energy and investment sectors, saying it reflected growing international confidence in the country’s economic direction.
On security, Mr Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace and stability across Africa. He said Türkiye’s experience in defence, counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing would help strengthen responses to emerging security threats.
At the end of the meetings, nine bilateral agreements were exchanged between the two countries. These cover areas including defence, education, media cooperation, trade facilitation, social development, diaspora policy and institutional collaboration.
Mr Tinubu said Nigeria remains open to international partnerships that promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity, adding that the country would continue to engage globally with confidence.
