SUNTV Global Channel — Abuja/Ankara
Updated January 26, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Ankara, Türkiye, on a state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Turkey.
The President landed at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport at about 9:05 p.m. local time on Monday, January 26, 2026, where he was received by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin. President Tinubu had earlier departed Abuja at approximately 2:05 p.m. from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is designed to deepen cooperation between both countries in critical areas such as security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.
The presidency noted that the trip builds on the strong diplomatic foundation laid during the official visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Nigeria in October 2021, which significantly boosted bilateral engagement between Abuja and Ankara.
During the state visit, Nigeria and Türkiye are expected to hold strategic political and diplomatic talks focused on mutual interests in finance, communications, trade and investment. Senior officials from both nations will participate in high-level meetings, culminating in the signing of several memoranda of understanding.
The agreements are expected to cover key sectors including scientific research, energy development, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration and diplomatic protocol.
A Nigeria–Turkey business forum will also take place on the sidelines of the visit, providing a platform for investors from both countries to explore new opportunities and strengthen economic partnerships.
Members of President Tinubu’s delegation include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); and the Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Jimi Benson.
Others on the entourage are the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the visit. His last foreign engagement was in the United Arab Emirates, where he attended the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Photo Credit: Bayo Onanuga/X
