By Chioma Favour
Ankara, Türkiye — Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has held high-level talks with his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Hakan Fidan, in Ankara as part of preparations for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s forthcoming state visit to Türkiye.
The meeting, which took place on Monday, marked Ambassador Tuggar’s first official visit to Türkiye and was aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across political, economic, security, and multilateral spheres.
This was contained in a statement signed by Alkasim Abdulkadir senior Adviser, Media and Communications Office of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs
According to the statement, during the talks, the Turkish Foreign Minister commended Nigeria’s constructive role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in West Africa, acknowledging the country’s leadership within regional and continental frameworks.
Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the importance of expanding bilateral trade and increasing mutual investment, particularly in key sectors of interest to Turkish businesses, including construction, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Both ministers noted the steady growth in economic relations between the two countries and stressed the need to unlock additional opportunities through structured public-private sector engagement.
On security matters, the two sides explored avenues for deeper cooperation in military relations and the defence industry, reflecting shared interests in addressing evolving security challenges.
The visit underscores the growing strategic partnership between Nigeria and Türkiye, anchored on mutual respect for sovereignty, strong institutional collaboration, and a commitment to pragmatic engagement. Both countries expressed confidence in the prospects for further strengthening relations in the period ahead.
