Türkiye is planning to establish local defence production facilities and military training centres in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen security cooperation and increase bilateral trade to $5bn. Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Abuja marking 66 years of diplomatic relations between both countries.
Poroy said the proposed facilities would allow Türkiye to move beyond supplying military equipment to Nigeria and support local production.
He explained that the plan was part of agreements reached during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye earlier in 2026, which resulted in nine agreements and memoranda of understanding.
The ambassador also disclosed that 200 Nigerian special forces personnel were undergoing a two-month training programme in Türkiye. He said both countries were planning to establish a training centre in Nigeria where Turkish military officers would provide continuous training for Nigerian Army personnel.
Poroy said Türkiye was willing to share its experience in tackling terrorism, noting that his country had lost more than 40,000 people and spent billions of dollars during its 40-year fight against the menace. He stressed that counterterrorism required more than military action, as economic and religious factors also played important roles.
He identified defence cooperation as a major part of bilateral relations, adding that the Nigerian military was already using Turkish attack helicopters and drones in operations against insecurity, particularly in northern Nigeria.
On trade, Poroy said both countries were targeting $5bn in annual bilateral trade, up from the current estimated $2bn, including oil and gas. He noted that Turkish investments across Africa exceeded $10bn, while investments in Nigeria remained below $1bn.
The ambassador said he had engaged business organisations in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos to explore investment opportunities and was facilitating visa processes for Nigerian businesspeople.
The envoy also highlighted Türkiye’s humanitarian support in Nigeria, including food assistance to 3,000 internally displaced families in Adamawa State and about $5m spent by Turkish non-governmental organisations on humanitarian activities over the past year.
He traced diplomatic ties between both countries to November 9, 1960, while also recalling historical connections dating to the Ottoman Empire. He said both countries would continue strengthening their security, economic and cultural relations.
