Nigeria and Türkiye have agreed to fast-track cooperation in trade, energy and defence as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties and drive economic growth, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced during his state visit to Ankara, Türkiye’s capital, on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
The development signals stronger strategic engagement between the two countries ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
President Tinubu disclosed the breakthrough in discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying both leaders agreed on a roadmap to “boost jobs, investment and opportunity” for citizens of Nigeria and Türkiye.
The agreement to accelerate cooperation spans critical areas such as trade expansion, energy partnerships and defence collaboration.
Nigeria and Türkiye have maintained diplomatic relations since 1960, with trade and investment growing steadily over the years. In the first 11 months of 2025, bilateral trade reached about $688.4 million, with energy accounting for a significant share, making Nigeria Türkiye’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
During the joint press conference, President Tinubu and President Erdoğan reaffirmed their shared ambition to expand future trade volume to a target of $5 billion, a commitment reiterated by Erdoğan as part of broader economic cooperation discussions.
As part of the talks, the two countries agreed to establish a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to guide implementation of trade and investment initiatives and remove structural barriers hindering business growth.
This committee is aimed at facilitating increased commercial ties, institutional cooperation and shared economic planning.
Nine bilateral agreements were signed during the visit, covering strategic sectors including defence cooperation, diaspora policy, media and communication, higher education, halal quality infrastructure, and institutional collaboration.
These accords are expected to strengthen the foundation for long-term partnership and create new opportunities for business engagement between both countries.
Expanding trade and investment relations with Türkiye could present new opportunities for Nigerian export markets and attract foreign direct investment into key sectors.
The energy sector, in particular, stands to benefit from deeper technical collaboration and capital inflows as both countries seek to leverage Nigeria’s vast crude oil and natural gas resources.
Private sector stakeholders in Nigeria’s urban economies anticipate that enhanced frameworks for trade and industrial cooperation will improve business confidence, reduce operational barriers and stimulate job creation.
The trade committee is expected to play a central role in harmonising regulations, addressing double taxation concerns and facilitating technology transfer.
Beyond economics, the Nigeria-Türkiye partnership includes expanded cooperation in defence and security, particularly in military training, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.
Erdoğan affirmed Türkiye’s support for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and pledged closer alignment in defence industry engagements.
Analysts say that combined economic and security cooperation could enhance regional stability, support investor confidence and improve perceptions of safety in urban Nigerian markets, making the country more attractive to foreign and domestic investors.
Nigeria and Türkiye’s commitment to fast-track cooperation in trade, energy and defence reflects a shared strategic vision for deeper economic integration and strengthened bilateral ties.
With a clear roadmap toward a $5 billion trade target and multiple sector agreements signed, both countries have laid a foundation for robust partnership that could yield lasting benefits for their economies and urban business communities.
