President Bola Tinubu and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Tuesday agreed to pursue a $5bn trade volume between Nigeria and Turkiye as both countries signed nine bilateral agreements.
Erdogan disclosed this at a joint press briefing with Tinubu during the Nigerian leader’s ongoing state visit to Ankara, the Turkish capital.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed details of the agreements in a statement he signed on Tuesday titled ‘We Are Targeting $5billion Trade Volume with Nigeria- President Erdogan’.
The Turkish leader said the establishment of a Joint Economy and Trade Committee would create opportunities for expanding Turkish investments in Nigeria to meet the target.
Erdogan announced, “Today, we conducted a comprehensive review of our relations with the esteemed president and his delegation in the fields of trade, investments, energy, education and defence industry.
“Firstly, we see that we have significant potential in the fields of trade and investment. In Today’s meetings, our commitment is to the target of $5bn trade volume, and we discussed the steps that need to be taken.
“We also discussed opportunities to support our investments in Nigeria. We believe that the Joint Economy and Trade Committee, which we agreed to establish Today, will be instrumental in this regard.”
He commended Tinubu’s reforms in the energy sector, expressing optimism that cooperation between Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian counterparts would yield positive results.
On security, the Turkish President pledged support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, offering to share his country’s experience in tackling insurgency.
“Terrorist organisations emerging, particularly in Africa’s Sahel region, unfortunately, pose a threat to the peace of the entire continent.
“We stand by the friendly people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism under the leadership of President Tinubu.
“Today, we addressed opportunities for closer cooperation in the fields of military training and intelligence. We stated that we are ready to share our country’s significant experience in the fight against terrorism,” he said
Tinubu, in his remarks, commended Erdogan’s willingness to collaborate on promoting freedom, stability and prosperity globally.
He emphasised the importance of building an inclusive economy that focuses on vulnerable populations.
“What is very important to the countries being discussed, trade, business, no restrictions, giving opportunity to those who are ready to learn to work and prosper. How do we build an inclusive economy together? How do we reform and get vulnerable people involved in the economy?” Tinubu asked.
The President said Nigeria would continue to play its role in promoting peace and stability in Africa despite security challenges in the region.
Both leaders witnessed the signing of nine agreements. They include: Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Diaspora Policy, Agreement on Defence Cooperation, Joint Declaration Establishing the Economy and Trade Joint Committee, and Agreement in the Field of Halal Quality Infrastructure.
Others included Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education, Cooperation in the Field of Media and Communication, Cooperation in the Field of Education, Cooperation Between the Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomacy Academy, and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Affairs Academy; and Cooperation Between the Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of Social Services and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ministry of women Affairs and Social Development.
