Defence, media, education… Nigeria, Turkey sign nine agreements

Nigeria and Turkey have signed nine agreements to strengthen bilateral ties as part of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing state visit to the Middle Eastern country.

Tinubu signed the agreements alongside Turkish President Recep Erdoğan and ministers from both countries after concluding a bilateral meeting in Ankara.

Olusegun Dada, Tinubu’s special assistant on social media, confirmed that nine agreements were exchanged.

They include agreement on cooperation in the field of diaspora policy; agreement on defence cooperation; a joint declaration establishing the economy and trade joint committee (JETCO); agreement in the field of halal quality infrastructure; and cooperation in the field of higher education.

Others are cooperation in the field of media and communication; cooperation in the field of education; cooperation between Turkey’s ministry of foreign affairs and diplomacy academy, and Nigeria’s foreign ministry and foreign affairs academy; and cooperation between Turkey’s ministry of social services and Nigeria’s ministry of women affairs and social development.

According to Turkish media, the communications agreement facilitates the exchange of information, expertise, and best practices between the two countries.

It also provides for organising joint seminars, workshops, training programmes, and reciprocal visits for officials and experts in the broadcasting and communication sectors. The agreement is valid for three years.

On trade, Erdoğan said his country is committed to meeting a $5 billion trade volume target with Nigeria.

The president spoke in a joint press conference with Tinubu, adding that discussions on the deal have already commenced.