RismadarVoice Reporters
November 10, 2026
Türkiye has announced plans to establish local defence production facilities and military training centres in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral security cooperation and increase trade between the two countries to $5 billion.
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja commemorating the 66th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Türkiye.
Poroy said the proposed facilities would expand cooperation beyond the supply of military equipment to include local production, technical assistance and specialised training for Nigerian personnel.
According to him, 200 Nigerian special forces personnel are currently completing a two-month training programme in Türkiye.
He explained that establishing a military training facility in Nigeria would enable troops to receive regular instruction from Turkish military officers without travelling abroad for every programme.
The ambassador also expressed Türkiye’s readiness to share its counterterrorism experience, stressing that addressing insecurity requires military operations alongside economic and social interventions.
Poroy noted that the Nigerian military already uses Turkish-made attack helicopters and drones in operations against insecurity, particularly in northern Nigeria.
He said the initiatives would build on agreements reached during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye earlier in 2026, when both countries signed nine agreements and memoranda of understanding.
On economic relations, the ambassador disclosed that both governments were targeting $5 billion in bilateral trade, compared with the current volume of approximately $2 billion, including oil and gas.
He described the existing trade volume as relatively low considering Nigeria’s economic potential and opportunities for expanded investment.
Poroy said Turkish investments across Africa exceeded $10 billion, while investments in Nigeria remained below $1 billion.
He added that the embassy was engaging Nigerian chambers of commerce and facilitating visa procedures for businesspeople to encourage stronger commercial partnerships.
On humanitarian cooperation, the ambassador disclosed that Türkiye had provided food assistance to 3,000 internally displaced families in Adamawa State.
He also said Turkish humanitarian organisations spent approximately $5 million supporting vulnerable communities in Nigeria during the previous year.
Reflecting on diplomatic relations, Poroy recalled that both countries elevated their ties to ambassadorial level on November 9, 1960.
He described Nigeria as an important strategic partner in West Africa and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening security, economic and cultural cooperation.
The proposed defence facilities remain at the planning stage, with implementation arrangements and completion timelines yet to be publicly specified.
