President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Abuja for an official state visit to the Republic of Türkiye, a trip aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and security partnerships with the Eurasian nation.
The President left from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at exactly 2:05pm on Monday, with top government officials present to see him off. Among them were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Also at the airport were the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
The visit is expected to build on existing bilateral relations between Nigeria and Türkiye, particularly following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Nigeria in 2021. According to a statement earlier issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the trip will focus on expanding cooperation across multiple sectors critical to Nigeria’s development agenda.
Onanuga said discussions will centre on security collaboration, education, social development, innovation and aviation, as both countries seek to consolidate diplomatic ties while unlocking new opportunities for mutual benefit.
High-level engagements during the visit are expected to culminate in the signing of several memoranda of understanding covering scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration and diplomatic protocol. A Nigeria–Türkiye business forum has also been scheduled to connect investors from both countries and boost trade and investment flows.
Members of the President’s delegation include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd); Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; alongside the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
