Türkiye–Nigeria
Relations
A deepening strategic partnership between two rising powers — from the historic January 2026 state visit to bilateral trade, defence cooperation, and shared opportunities for the Nigerian diaspora.
A deepening strategic partnership between two rising powers — from the historic January 2026 state visit to bilateral trade, defence cooperation, and shared opportunities for the Nigerian diaspora.
On 26–27 January 2026, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid an official state visit to Ankara at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. It was a landmark moment in the relationship between the two nations.
President Tinubu was received with full military honours at the Presidential Complex, where the two leaders held extensive bilateral talks covering trade, defence, energy, education, diaspora affairs, and regional security.
The visit produced nine bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, alongside a joint declaration establishing a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) — a formal mechanism to drive bilateral trade toward an ambitious $5 billion target.
Presidents Tinubu and Erdoğan in Ankara, January 2026.
Official photographs from the January 2026 Nigeria–Türkiye summit in Ankara
Official welcoming ceremony with full military honours at the Presidential Complex.
Signing of bilateral agreements and MoUs between the two delegations.
Delegations from both nations in formal greeting ahead of bilateral talks.
A historic handshake symbolising the strengthened strategic partnership.
Nine bilateral agreements signed across critical sectors of mutual interest
MoUs spanning defence, economy, higher education, halal trade, media, diaspora policy, and women’s affairs.
A new Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to accelerate bilateral commerce and investment.
Around $400 million already invested, with Nigeria as Türkiye’s largest sub-Saharan trading partner.
Cooperation across defence, energy, education and culture — a partnership built for the long term.
The nine agreements cover a wide range of strategic sectors with direct relevance to NIDO Europe delegates
Establishment of JETCO, a formal mechanism to expand bilateral trade, reduce barriers, and promote joint ventures between Nigerian and Turkish businesses.
Military cooperation agreement covering training, equipment, intelligence sharing, and defence industry collaboration.
Expanded scholarship programmes, university partnerships, and academic exchange between Nigerian and Turkish institutions.
Cooperation on halal certification standards, food quality assurance, and access to the global halal market worth over $2 trillion.
Shared frameworks for engaging diaspora communities, facilitating remittances, and creating return investment pathways.
Agreements on women’s empowerment, media cooperation, and cultural exchange to deepen people-to-people ties.
Nigeria is Türkiye’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Bilateral trade has grown steadily, with both nations targeting $5 billion in annual trade through the newly established JETCO.
Over 50 Turkish companies are currently operating in Nigeria, with approximately $400 million in direct investment across construction, energy, manufacturing, textiles, and consumer goods.
Türkiye’s strategic location as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and Africa makes it a natural hub for Nigerian businesses looking to access European, Middle Eastern, and Central Asian markets.
$5B
Trade Target
Bilateral annual trade goal
50+
Turkish Companies
Operating in Nigeria
$400M
Direct Investment
Turkish FDI in Nigeria
9
Agreements
Signed in January 2026
The strengthened Türkiye–Nigeria partnership creates real opportunities for diaspora professionals and businesses
Direct access to Turkish companies already investing in Nigeria, and new Turkish firms looking for Nigerian partners.
Türkiye’s free trade zones and logistics infrastructure offer Nigerian businesses a gateway into European and Central Asian markets.
The new higher education MoU opens doors for scholarships, research collaboration, and academic exchange.
Construction, energy, manufacturing, and textiles are key sectors where Turkish and Nigerian companies are building joint ventures.
The diaspora policy agreement creates formal channels for NIDO members to participate in bilateral trade and investment initiatives.
The Convention in İstanbul provides a unique platform to engage with officials from both nations on trade facilitation and partnership opportunities.
Information on this page is based on reporting of the January 2026 Nigeria–Türkiye state visit from official and international news sources, including the Nigerian Presidency (statehouse.gov.ng), Anadolu Agency (aa.com.tr), Daily Sabah, and BBC.
Join the NIDO Europe Convention 2026 in İstanbul and connect with business leaders from Türkiye and Nigeria.