The Republic of Turkey has expressed readiness to diversify its bilateral business relations with Nigeria to include power, construction and defence industries.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Melih Ulueren stated this at an occasion to commemorate the 95th anniversary of Turkey National Day in Abuja.
Currently, commercial ties between both countries focused on petroleum and LNG trade and civil aviation.
The envoy said 58 Turkish companies have made direct investments in Nigeria and that his country aims to invest more to increase its bilateral trade volume to the benefit of the both nations.
Turkey, he said, espoused a ‘win-win’ approach to its five-decade diplomatic relations with Nigeria, saying the good cooperation had developed since establishment in 1960.
“We see Nigeria, the powerhouse of its region and the continent, as a strategic partner in Africa and we aim to develop and diversify our relations,” Ulueren said.
The envoy said, “Mutual visits at the level of Heads of State from Turkey and Nigeria in 2016 and 2017, underlined our common will to deepen and further develop our bilateral relations.
“Turkey fully supports Nigeria in her struggle against Boko Haram. We commend the operations of Nigerian Army against Boko Haram. We see lack of resources and children deprived of good education in the region to provide a fertile ground for the terrorist organisation to recruit.
“The drying of the Lake Chad together with the negative effects of the climate change which is a threat multiplier is of course among the main negative factors. The Great Green Wall initiative for the Sahel Countries therefore is appropriate.”
He said more than 2,000 Nigerian students are studying in various Turkish higher institutions.
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