* We stand with Nigeria in fight against terrorism: Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Tuesday that Türkiye will expand cooperation with Nigeria in counterterrorism, military training and intelligence, as the two countries signed nine agreements aimed at strengthening political, economic and security ties during the visit of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists at a joint news conference after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdoğan described Nigeria as a strategic partner with whom Türkiye maintains close coordination on key issues affecting the Islamic world, including Palestine, through platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the D-8.
“We stand with the brotherly people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism. We reviewed opportunities for closer cooperation in military training and intelligence,” he said.
Erdoğan said the leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, energy and the defense industry, noting that his 2021 visit to Nigeria laid the groundwork for expanding ties. He emphasized the “strong political will” on both sides, pointing to the presence of senior Nigerian officials in Tinubu’s delegation as a sign of commitment.
Following one-on-one and delegation-level talks, the two nations signed nine accords covering diplomacy, education, media, women’s affairs, halal accreditation, diaspora cooperation and military collaboration.
The agreements include a military cooperation protocol, a memorandum on media and communication, a pact establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), and memorandums between the diplomacy academies of both foreign ministries, among others.
Earlier, Tinubu’s motorcade was greeted by 103 cavalry units on the avenue leading to the Presidential Complex, symbolising the 103rd anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
Erdogan personally welcomed Tinubu at the main entrance of the complex, where both leaders stood for the national anthems of the two countries, performed by a military band.
The two leaders posed for photographs in front of the national flags before proceeding to bilateral and inter-delegational talks.
Tinubu is on an official visit to Türkiye from January 26 to 28, during which the two sides are expected to sign cooperation agreements and hold meetings with business and defence industry leaders to deepen strategic ties.
Tinubu’s visit will include meetings focusing on a review of Türkiye-Nigeria relations, an exchange of views on regional and international issues, and the signing of agreements aimed at further strengthening cooperation, Türkiye’s Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran said in a post on Turkish social media platform NSosyal.
He added that a roundtable meeting between Tinubu and business leaders, as well as discussions with representatives of the defence industry, would take place on the sidelines of the visit.
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