Tinubu’s Türkiye trip secured $5bn trade pathways, strategic deals – Presidency

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — THE Presidency on Thursday said President Bola Tinubu’s recent working visit to Ankara, Türkiye, was anchored on concrete economic and diplomatic objectives, stressing that the engagement yielded commitments capable of raising bilateral trade between both countries to $5 billion while deepening cooperation across strategic sectors.

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, stated this while reflecting on the outcome of the visit via his X handle, noting that although domestic attention briefly fixated on a momentary ceremonial misstep during a guard inspection, the real substance of the trip lay in high-level negotiations that produced nine Memoranda of Understanding spanning defence, education, diplomacy, media and economic cooperation.

He explained that the visit was conceived as a strategic working mission rather than a symbolic outing, fully aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic diversification, security reform and the attraction of foreign direct investment.

The presidential aide emphasised that officials and media in Türkiye focused primarily on the activation of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), a bilateral mechanism designed to institutionalise trade and investment flows between both nations, describing it as a major outcome with long-term implications for exporters and investors.

The Presidency further noted that Türkiye remains a critical partner for Nigeria in defence manufacturing, infrastructure delivery and industrial development, sectors considered vital to ongoing national reforms.

Agreements reached in Ankara, it added, include military cooperation, export facilitation through halal quality infrastructure, academic and diplomatic training exchanges, diaspora engagement, media collaboration and social services coordination.

“These frameworks represent structured cooperation, not ceremonial declarations,” Olusegun said, adding that implementation would proceed alongside ongoing domestic reforms in the energy and investment policy sectors.

He urged a shift in public discourse from fleeting moments to measurable outcomes, stressing that the real value of international engagements lies in the economic and institutional gains they deliver rather than the optics surrounding them.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to sustained economic diplomacy, the Presidency maintained that the Türkiye visit underscores President Tinubu’s focus on long-term national advancement and trade expansion despite distractions, noting that the projected increase in bilateral trade reflects renewed confidence in Nigeria’s global economic positioning.

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