The Turkish government has revealed plans to simplify visa procedures for Nigerian citizens so as to boost trade and strengthen diplomatic ties between both countries.
Mehmet Poroy, the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria confirmed this on Monday, May 26 at the ongoing ‘Turkish Cuisine week’ taking place in Abuja, Nigeria.
Poroy stated that new visa application centers will soon open in Nigeria’s eastern and northern regions to make it more convenient for businesspeople and tourists to apply for Turkish visas.
He mentioned that currently, services are limited to Lagos and Abuja.
Poroy explained that the decision was driven by rising travel demand between the two countries, supported by over 16 weekly flights.
He also expressed Turkey’s intention to grow its trade volume with Nigeria to $5 billion, citing Nigeria’s key role in the West African economy.
Poroy said, “There’s growing interest and interaction between both countries, and we are working to facilitate smoother processes to support this momentum.”
He further mentioned the celebration of Turkish Cuisine Week, held globally from Wednesday, May 21 to Tuesday, May 27, as a significant cultural initiative.
This year’s event focuses on traditional Turkish recipes, reflecting the nation’s rich and diverse culinary traditions.
Turkish Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Elif Durdu, also spoke at the event, highlighting Turkey’s broader ambition to increase its trade with Africa, which currently stands at $40 billion.
Durdu emphasized Nigeria’s importance as a strategic partner in achieving that goal.
She noted that bilateral trade between the two countries is currently around $1 billion but has significant potential for growth.
Durdu mentioned that several Turkish firms are already operating in Nigeria, particularly in sectors like construction and energy.
She said, “Turkish firms have invested approximately $2.8 billion in infrastructure projects across Nigeria, and interest continues to grow.”
Both diplomats expressed confidence that enhanced economic and cultural cooperation would bring shared benefits and create new avenues for collaboration.
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