President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, on a State Visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between the two countries.
The President’s aircraft touched down at Ankara Esenboğa Airport at exactly 9.03pm local time, marking the start of a high-level visit expected to yield new bilateral agreements and expand existing partnerships. He was received at the airport by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin.
Also present to welcome the President were senior officials of the Nigerian mission in Türkiye, including the Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, alongside other embassy staff.
Following his arrival, President Tinubu was received at his hotel by key members of the Nigerian delegation accompanying him on the visit. Among them were the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd).
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Other senior officials present included the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh; Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson; the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
According to the Presidency, the State Visit is focused on consolidating the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and Türkiye, while exploring new areas of cooperation that will deliver tangible benefits to both countries. The two nations already maintain strong ties in trade, defence cooperation, construction, education and technical services, with Türkiye emerging as a key partner in Nigeria’s infrastructure and security sectors.
During the visit, President Tinubu is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The discussions are expected to cover a wide range of issues, including defence collaboration, economic investment, technology transfer and energy development.
Officials confirmed that several Memoranda of Understanding will be signed during the visit, signalling renewed commitment to structured cooperation and long-term partnership. The agreements are expected to provide a framework for increased private sector engagement, improved trade flows and enhanced technical collaboration between institutions in both countries.
The visit comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to diversify its international partnerships and attract investment into key sectors of the economy, while Türkiye continues to expand its diplomatic and commercial footprint across Africa.
President Tinubu’s trip underscores Abuja’s commitment to active economic diplomacy and strategic engagement with emerging global partners. Further engagements and official meetings are expected to take place during the course of the visit.
The State Visit was announced in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on January 26, 2026.
