The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, has highlighted Türkiye’s strong interest in supporting Nigeria due to shared challenges in combating terrorism.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, Poroy emphasized that both countries face similar existential threats and have a mutual interest in developing effective counterterrorism strategies.
“What makes Nigeria very special, from our perspective, is that our countries face similar challenges. We have fought various terrorist organisations for years and gained significant experience and success. Nigeria is also fighting several terrorist organisations, primarily Boko Haram and ISWAP. Therefore, we want to support Nigeria in this area by sharing our experience, capabilities, and resources,” he said.
Poroy noted that Türkiye has developed its defence industry to address domestic and regional security threats, equipping its armed forces to counter terrorism effectively.
He suggested that similar cooperation could benefit Nigeria through joint collaboration in defence production and military support.
“We are working with our Nigerian counterparts to deepen military cooperation in this regard, as our president has expressed that we stand by Nigeria in its fight against terrorism. In addition to providing military equipment and critical systems, our companies also work with Nigerian authorities for joint local production of equipment in Nigeria,” Poroy explained.
The ambassador also underscored Nigeria’s economic and strategic significance to Türkiye, citing its position as West Africa’s largest economy and Africa’s fourth-largest economy, along with a population exceeding 230 million.
“As the biggest country in the continent, Türkiye sees Nigeria as an important strategic partner. Today, we continue to view Nigeria as an important, strategic partner,” he said.
Poroy further highlighted the historical ties between the two nations, dating back to the 16th century with contacts between the Ottoman Empire and the Kanem-Bornu Empire. He noted that Türkiye opened its embassy in Nigeria on November 9, 1960, immediately after Nigeria’s independence, reflecting the long-standing importance of bilateral relations.
The ambassador’s statements follow recent high-level engagements, including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Türkiye, which reinforced both countries’ commitments to security collaboration and economic partnership.
