Ankara — January 27, 2026
In a landmark move to deepen bilateral relations, Turkey and Nigeria have signed a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement as part of a broader set of nine pacts agreed during Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Ankara.
The agreement, inked alongside deals on military training, media collaboration, and education signals a renewed commitment from both nations to work more closely on security and defence challenges facing their regions. The two countries described the defence pact as a key pillar in strengthening cooperation against terrorism, insurgency, and other threats to peace and stability.
Officials from Ankara and Abuja highlighted that this step builds on existing diplomatic ties, with defence cooperation seen as a strategic priority. Representatives said the agreement will focus on areas such as military exchanges, training programmes, and joint planning, bringing together expertise from both countries’ armed forces.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed President Tinubu and described Nigeria as a “key strategic partner,” emphasizing the need for enhanced collaboration in confronting modern security threats. He pointed to the defence agreement as part of a shared vision for stability, not only within their respective regions but across Africa and beyond.
For Nigeria, the pact comes at a time when the nation continues efforts to bolster its own security architecture in the face of insurgency and transnational crime. Nigerian officials noted that expanded defence cooperation with Turkey will help improve capabilities and strengthen the country’s security institutions.
Alongside defence, the nine agreements signed on Tuesday cover economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, including the establishment of a joint committee to pursue an ambitious US $5 billion trade target between the two countries.
Observers say the suite of agreements reflects a broader trend of growing ties between Ankara and Abuja, with both nations seeking to deepen engagement across multiple sectors.
The defence cooperation agreement, now set to enter an implementation phase, is expected to further anchor the strategic partnership, combining diplomatic goodwill with practical measures that support shared priorities on peace and security.
