President Bola Tinubu has left Abuja for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries, just nine days after returning from his trip to France and other parts of Europe.
The President departed from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 2:05 p.m. on Monday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the visit is designed to deepen cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye in key areas such as security, education, social development, innovation and aviation.
Onanuga explained that the visit builds on the diplomatic momentum created during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s official visit to Nigeria between October 19 and 20, 2021, which helped to further solidify ties between Abuja and Ankara.
While in Türkiye, President Tinubu is expected to engage in high-level political and diplomatic discussions focused on mutual interests in finance, communications, trade, and investment. The program will also include meetings between senior officials of both countries and the signing of several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration, and protocol.
A Nigeria–Türkiye business forum will also take place on the sidelines of the visit, bringing together investors from both nations to explore opportunities for economic partnership and growth.
Members of the President’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.
Also on the delegation 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, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the visit.
Recall that the president returned to the country on January 17, 2026, after spending about 20 days in France and other parts of Europe, having departed on December 28, 2025.
