Imperatives of Nigeria-Turkiye agreements

The recent signing of multiple agreements by Nigeria and Turkiye has underscored the commitment of the two countries to strengthening the existing ties between them. In the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Turkiye and Nigeria, respectively, nine agreements covering such critical areas as military cooperation, diplomacy, diaspora policy, […]

The recent signing of multiple agreements by Nigeria and Turkiye has underscored the commitment of the two countries to strengthening the existing ties between them. In the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Turkiye and Nigeria, respectively, nine agreements covering such critical areas as military cooperation, diplomacy, diaspora policy, higher education, as well as media and communication were duly signed.

This development was the major hallmark of President Tinubu’s visit to Turkiye late last month, during which a declaration for the establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was also made. A series of meetings meant to bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries defined Tinubu’s visit.

President Erdoğan revealed, at a press conference in the Turkish capital, Ankara, that a strong commitment to the achievement of a five-billion-dollar bilateral trade volume was made, in addition to the signing of what is called the “Protocol on Military Cooperation.” The protocol, in particular, is an improved version of the Defence Industry Cooperation agreement that the two countries signed in 2021, which allowed only for the purchase of military hardware from Turkiye.

Now, the adoption of the protocol has broadened the scope of collaboration to include intelligence-sharing, as well as training on counter-insurgency and urban warfare, from which Nigeria stands to benefit tremendously. The Nigerian Air Force, in particular, will receive training on the use of Turkish drones, technically known as Bayraktar TB2 and TB3, thereby enhancing the capacity of its personnel for counter-insurgency operations.

Of even greater significance in this regard is the counter-terrorism synergy pledge, by which the two countries shall build a common front against the activities of regional and global terror groups. President Erdoğan’s declaration of support for the “brotherly people of Nigeria” in the fight against terrorism indicates a clear adherence to the principles of the improved collaboration between the two countries.

Meanwhile, this newspaper recalls that Nigeria and Turkiye have maintained a long-standing relationship spanning several decades. Since 1962, when the Turkish Embassy was opened in Lagos, several diplomatic and economic engagements have helped to strengthen ties that now form the basis of the agreements just signed.

Apart from defence and security matters on which the two countries have continued to collaborate, Nigeria is Türkiye’s biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa, as the volume of trade between them exceeded one billion dollars in 2024. When this is added to Nigeria’s exports to Turkiye, which stood at 505 million dollars, and imports from Turkiye, which amounted to 721 million dollars in the same year, a clearer picture of a robust bilateral relationship readily emerges.

It is similarly noteworthy that construction contracts valued at three billion dollars have already been executed by some of the more than fifty Turkish firms currently operating in Nigeria. This is sufficient evidence of Türkiye’s deep participation in Nigeria’s development process, which needs to be further facilitated.

Daily Trust believes that Turkiye, as a key power influencing military operations and economic developments across Europe, Asia and even the Middle East, fully qualifies as Nigeria’s alternative partner in the areas of trade, investment and the fight against terrorism. As the second-biggest military power after the United States among North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, and with a fast-growing economy driven by textiles, automobiles, agriculture and tourism, Turkiye is a country on which Nigeria can rely for a sustainable partnership.

This fact, therefore, necessitates a call for consistent follow-up to ensure that the terms of the agreements are faithfully translated into reality. All the foreseen mutual benefits and the potential advantages exclusive to Nigeria are achievable only if the necessary mechanisms for the implementation of the plans made during the visit are fully put in place.

In this regard, President Tinubu is strongly expected to order the reinvigoration and/or redesign of the operational frameworks of all relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government, in such a way that they become adequately responsive to the compelling need for implementation. Those who, either as technocrats or key functionaries of government, are responsible for implementation should ensure clear alignment between the terms of the agreements and national actions.

While the country awaits the full commencement of implementation, it is also necessary to emphasise the need for consistent monitoring of the process, so as to avoid derailment or costly mistakes. This is the only strategy that can guarantee effective maximisation of the benefits derivable from the improved Nigeria–Turkiye friendship.