RismadarVoice Reporters, January 28, 2026
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Türkiye has disclosed that his country is targeting a $5 billion trade volume with Nigeria, as both nations intensify efforts to deepen bilateral economic relations.
President Erdogan made this known on Tuesday in Ankara during a joint press briefing with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following bilateral talks held as part of the Nigerian leader’s state visit to Türkiye.
According to Erdogan, discussions aimed at achieving the trade target have already commenced, noting that the current trade volume between both countries stands at about $2 billion.
He explained that Türkiye presently exports aircraft, helicopters, machinery, iron and steel products, as well as chemical goods to Nigeria, while Nigeria exports crude oil and agricultural products to Türkiye.
The Turkish leader said the establishment of a Joint Economy and Trade Committee between both countries would create new opportunities to expand Turkish investments in Nigeria and accelerate progress towards the $5 billion trade target.
“Today, we conducted a comprehensive review of our relations with the esteemed President and his delegation in the fields of trade, investments, energy, education, and the defence industry,” Erdogan said.
“Firstly, we see that we have significant potential in the fields of trade and investment. In today’s meetings, we reaffirmed our commitment to the $5 billion trade volume target and discussed the steps required to achieve it,” he added.
President Erdogan also commended President Tinubu’s economic reforms, particularly in the energy sector, which he said have contributed to the restructuring of Nigeria’s economy.
He expressed optimism that cooperation between the Turkish Petroleum Corporation and Nigerian counterparts would yield positive outcomes, strengthening collaboration in the energy sector.
On security, Erdogan pledged Türkiye’s support for Nigeria in its fight against insurgency and terrorism, drawing from his country’s experience in combating similar threats.
“Terrorist organisations, particularly those emerging in Africa’s Sahel region, pose a threat to the peace of the entire continent. We stand by the friendly people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism under the leadership of President Tinubu,” he said.
The Turkish President disclosed that both leaders also discussed closer cooperation in military training, intelligence sharing, and defence industry collaboration, adding that Türkiye is ready to share its expertise in counter-terrorism.
“I believe we will soon see positive outcomes from the meetings Nigerian officials will hold with our leading defence industry companies during this visit,” Erdogan noted.
In his remarks, President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the Turkish government for its openness and willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in promoting global peace, stability, and shared prosperity.
The Nigerian President emphasised the importance of inclusive economic growth, particularly policies that address the needs of vulnerable populations.
“We discussed trade, business, and investment without restrictions, creating opportunities for those who are ready to learn, work, and prosper,” Tinubu said.
“How do we build an inclusive economy together? How do we reform the economy and involve vulnerable people? How do we ensure peace in the world?” he asked.
President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting peace, stability across Africa, despite ongoing security challenges in parts of the country.
“We discussed efforts against terrorism and how to defeat agents of destabilisation,” he added.
The Nigerian leader also praised President Erdogan’s role in promoting peace, particularly his mediation efforts in Somalia.
