President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between both countries.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is expected to deepen existing ties while exploring new areas of collaboration in security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.
Onanuga recalled that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid an official visit to Nigeria from October 19 to 20, 2021, noting that President Tinubu’s visit would further consolidate diplomatic engagements between the two nations.
According to the statement, President Tinubu and his Turkish counterpart will hold strategic political and diplomatic discussions focusing on shared interests in finance, communication, trade and investment.
“The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in areas such as scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others,” the statement read.
It added that a business forum would be convened during the visit, bringing together investors from Nigeria and Türkiye to explore mutually beneficial opportunities.
Members of the President’s delegation expected to participate in the bilateral discussions include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson.
Others are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the visit.
