Turkey Deepens $2bn Trade Ties with Nigeria, Plans Visa Centre in Kano

Turkey has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding trade and investment relations with Nigeria, with efforts underway to grow bilateral trade beyond the current $2 billion.

Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, made this known during a business visit to the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), where he led a delegation of Turkish investors.

Poroy said Turkey is seeking to strengthen partnerships with both public and private sector stakeholders in Kano, in line with existing bilateral agreements between the two countries. He highlighted opportunities for increased collaboration in key sectors such as energy, technology transfer, healthcare, and agriculture.

As part of efforts to boost business relations, the ambassador disclosed plans to establish new visa application centres in Lagos and Kano to simplify travel processes for Nigerian businesspeople.

“We are exploring ways to expand our trade volume and investment presence in Nigeria. Our meeting with stakeholders in Kano was productive, and we expect more opportunities that will enhance business-to-business engagement,” he said.

He added that the proposed visa centre in Kano would make it easier for residents and entrepreneurs in the region to process travel documents without having to travel to Abuja.

Chairman of the Nigeria-Turkey Business Council, Dele Oye, said the Kano visit followed President Bola Tinubu’s official trip to Turkey in January 2026, during which several agreements were signed to strengthen economic cooperation. He noted that both countries are targeting an increase in trade volume from $2 billion to $5 billion, with Kano playing a strategic role in achieving that goal.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fully implementing its agreements and memoranda of understanding with Turkey.

In a statement by her aide, Magnus Eze, the minister recalled that President Tinubu’s visit to Ankara, at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, led to the signing of key bilateral agreements aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.

The visit, which included several ministers and the National Security Adviser, marked a significant step in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Turkey.