President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to embark on a two-day official visit to the Republic of Türkiye, with the agenda focused on military cooperation and trade partnerships. The visit underscores Nigeria’s strategic recalibration toward countries that combine industrial strength, security capability, and pragmatic diplomacy.
Türkiye, which has maintained a diplomatic presence in Nigeria since 1962, is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, controlling maritime gateways that link the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and global trade lanes. For Nigeria, the country serves as a bridge to Europe, a corridor to the Middle East, and a springboard to Central and Far-East Asia.
The President’s visit comes as Nigeria seeks partners who do more than sell products, but help build industrial systems, strengthen security, and expand trade. Türkiye offers significant advantages in this regard:
Industrial capability across construction, defense, textiles, energy, and rail systems. Defense and security depth, including drones, armored vehicles, and surveillance systems. Trade dynamism, with strong exports to Africa and emphasis on joint ventures and local production. Geopolitical balance, as a NATO member with global strategic links.
Bilateral relations have already been cemented through prior high-level visits, including Turkish Presidents Abdullah Gül and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Nigeria’s own President Muhammadu Buhari. These engagements have fostered tangible cooperation in healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, defense, and trade.
Trade between the two countries now exceeds USD 1 billion annually, with targets to reach USD 5 billion. In 2024, Turkish exports to Nigeria were approximately USD 721 million, while Nigerian exports to Türkiye reached USD 505 million, with Nigeria recording a non-oil trade surplus of ₦6.1 trillion.
Strategic Turkish-led investments in Nigeria include Nizamiye Hospital (Abuja), Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, Turkish Eye & Specialist Hospitals, Hayat Kimya ($200m, Ogun State), Ülker ($50m), Direkçi ($22m), ASELSAN defence electronics, and over 150 bilateral business engagements through the Türkiye Exporters Assembly.
Modern Türkiye’s development under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk serves as a model for Nigeria’s reform trajectory under President Tinubu, emphasizing structural reform, fiscal discipline, and trade diversification.
This visit, therefore, goes beyond symbolism. It represents strategic alignment, positioning Nigeria as a regional manufacturing and logistics hub and Türkiye as a partner capable of transferring technology, scaling infrastructure, and co-producing security solutions.
As President Tinubu departs for Türkiye, the message is clear: Nigeria is not merely visiting a country; it is choosing a corridor to global markets—and that corridor runs through Türkiye.
