Abuja, Nigeria – January 12, 2026
Nigeria and Turkey have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations, with renewed emphasis on trade, security cooperation, and visa facilitation, following a high-level meeting in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday hosted the newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mehmet Poroy, during a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Interior. The engagement provided a platform for both countries to explore practical initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation and expanding investment opportunities.
Discussions during the meeting focused on attracting increased Turkish investments into Nigeria’s economy, enhancing regional security collaboration and intelligence sharing, strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties, and improving people-to-people exchanges. Both sides also emphasized the need to facilitate smoother visa processes for business travelers and investors from Nigeria and Turkey.
Ambassador Poroy acknowledged recent improvements in visa facilitation for Nigerian businesspeople traveling to Turkey, attributing the progress to sustained collaboration between Turkish authorities and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior. However, he raised concerns about visa challenges encountered by Turkish businesspersons seeking to visit Nigeria for trade fairs, investment opportunities, and commercial engagements.
In response, Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured the Ambassador that denying visas to genuine business travelers does not serve the interests of either country. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting mutually beneficial partnerships and described the discussions as timely and substantive. The Minister also highlighted the long-standing historical and cultural ties between both nations as a strong foundation for deeper collaboration.
The meeting aligns with the broader trajectory of Nigeria–Turkey relations, which have gained momentum in recent years across defense, border security, economic cooperation, and humanitarian engagement. Both countries continue to explore opportunities to boost trade volumes, promote technology transfer, and jointly address challenges related to migration management and regional stability.
With over 16 weekly flights connecting Nigeria and Turkey and ongoing initiatives to streamline visa processes, both nations expressed optimism about the future of their partnership, describing it as one poised for sustained growth and expanded cooperation.
