Tinubu returns after Turkey visit

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.

The President arrived in Abuja on Saturday night at about 8:55 p.m. Nigerian time.

He had departed Nigeria on January 26 with ministers and other government officials.

While in Türkiye, President Tinubu secured a commitment from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to increase his country’s trade volume with Nigeria to $5 billion. He said discussions to actualise this target had already commenced.

President Erdoğan made the statement during a joint press briefing with President Tinubu as part of the Nigerian leader’s state visit.

At present, the trade volume between the two countries stands at about $2 billion. Türkiye currently exports planes, helicopters, machinery, iron and steel, and chemical products to Nigeria, while Nigeria exports crude oil and agricultural products to Türkiye.

President Erdoğan said the establishment of the Joint Economy and Trade Committee between the two countries would create opportunities to expand Turkish investments in Nigeria in order to achieve the target.

At the end of the bilateral meeting, the President and his entourage also signed nine agreements.

The agreements cover the fields of Diaspora Policy; Defence Cooperation; Joint Declaration Establishing the Economy and Trade Joint Committee; and Halal Quality Infrastructure.

Others include Cooperation in Higher Education; Media and Communication; Education; Cooperation between the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomacy Academy, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs Academy; and Cooperation between the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Social Services and the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.