Nigeria and the Republic of Türkiye have set a $5 billion trade volume target as Presidents Bola Tinubu and Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic, security and diplomatic cooperation between both countries.
Speaking on Tuesday in Ankara during a joint press briefing, President Erdogan said discussions toward achieving the $5 billion trade target had already commenced, stressing that the newly established Joint Economy and Trade Committee would play a key role in boosting trade and supporting Turkish investments in Nigeria.
Erdogan said both leaders reviewed bilateral relations across key sectors including trade, investment, energy, education and defence, noting that Nigeria presents significant opportunities for Turkish businesses.
He praised President Tinubu’s commitment to economic reforms and investment promotion, describing the presence of several Nigerian ministers and senior officials during the state visit as evidence of strong political will.
On energy cooperation, Erdogan commended Nigeria’s recent reforms and expressed optimism that collaboration between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian partners would yield positive results.
Addressing security concerns, particularly terrorism in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region, Erdogan pledged Türkiye’s support, including cooperation in military training and intelligence sharing, drawing on his country’s experience in combating insurgency.
President Tinubu, in his remarks, thanked Türkiye for its openness to collaboration and emphasized the need to build an inclusive economy that integrates vulnerable groups. He highlighted trade without restrictions, skills development and shared prosperity as central goals of Nigeria’s engagement with Türkiye.
The Nigerian leader also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to peace and stability in Africa and commended President Erdogan’s efforts toward global peace, particularly in Somalia.
At the conclusion of the bilateral talks, officials from both countries exchanged nine agreements covering diaspora policy, defence cooperation, trade and economic partnership, halal quality infrastructure, higher education, media and communication, education, diplomacy training, and social development, including cooperation on women affairs.
The visit underscores Nigeria’s push to deepen strategic partnerships and attract foreign investment as part of its broader economic reform agenda.