Tinubu heads to turkey on state visit to boost Nigeria’s ties
President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to Turkey as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the Republic of Turkey.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the trip is aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation across critical sectors including security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.
According to the presidency, the visit builds on the momentum generated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Nigeria in October 2021, which helped to reinforce diplomatic relations between both countries.
During Tinubu’s stay in Turkey, both governments are expected to engage in high-level political and diplomatic discussions centred on shared interests in finance, communication, trade and investment.
The programme of activities will also include meetings between senior officials of both nations, as well as the signing of several memoranda of understanding covering areas such as scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration and protocol.
A business forum will be held on the sidelines of the visit to bring together Nigerian and Turkish investors, with the aim of exploring new opportunities for mutual economic growth.
Members of the President’s delegation include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson.
Others on the entourage are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the state visit.