Nigeria and Turkey have signed eight major agreements to further bolster bilateral relations between the two nations.
The agreements were in the areas of Energy, Defense industry, Mining, Hydro Carbons among others.
Announcing this at a joint press briefing with his Turkish counterpart on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said implementation of the agreements will commence immediately.
President Buhari said their deliberations reviewed the travel list based on the revised COVID-19 protocols and removed Turkey from Nigeria’s Travel Ban List, adding that Turkey has achieved remarkable success in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We held very useful discussions on a number of bilateral issues, aimed at strengthening this cordial relationship between Nigeria and Turkey.
“The key issues we touched on included a series of bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding that had been finalised.
“As a positive outcome, eight major Agreements/MoUs on a number of the key sectors including Energy, Defense Industry, Mining and Hydro Carbons among others were signed today.
“We have agreed that implementation is to commence immediately,” the President revealed.
Buhari said before departing Nigeria, President Erdogan will meet with a Joint Session of the Nigeria and Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as another opportunity to engage and exchange views on more productive ways of pushing ahead the socio-economic ties between our two countries.
“President Erdogan and his wife, had earlier officially commissioned the Turkish Cultural Center in Abuja.
“The visiting First Lady had also opened the newly renovated Government Secondary School in Wuse, Abuja.
“The renovation was undertaken by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIIKA). We are grateful to Turkey for this kind gesture,” he concluded.
In his speech, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Nigeria/Turkey trade volume will be expanded to 5 billion dollars immediately to ensure a win-win situation and in the basis of mutual respect.
President Edorgan, who spoke through an interpreter, said Turkey, has consistently monitored the security challenges in Nigeria and is ready to share its defence, industry and security capabilities to help address the anomaly.
“We hope and pray that we will be expanding our trade volume up to 5 billion dollars immediately.
“We hope and pray that the relations between the two nations would be further developed on the basis of a win-win situation and in the basis of mutual respect.
“As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria in our brotherly and friendly nation.
“The terrorist organizations, the armed gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting them.
“In other to cooperate further in the field of military operations, defence and security, we are doing everything that will be available.
“We are ready to share our capabilities, which are being praised by the globe.
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope will be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sister and our counterparts,” he noted.
