By Adedapo Adesanya
The Government of Turkey has said its bilateral trade volume with Nigeria will jump to $5 billion as it seeks to further boost socio-economic ties between the two countries.
This was disclosed by the President of the country, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at the end of a closed-door bilateral meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
President Erdogan noted that there are expectations that relations between the two nations would be further developed on the basis of a win-win situation and on the basis of mutual respect.
The Turkish leader also expressed the readiness of his country to partner with Nigeria in tackling its security challenges.
“We hope and pray that we will be expanding our trade volume up to $5 billion immediately.
“We hope and pray that the relations between the two nations would be further developed on the basis of a win-win situation and on the basis of mutual respect.
“As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria in our brotherly and friendly nation.
“The terrorist organizations, the armed gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting them.
“In other to cooperate further in the field of military operations, defence and security, we are doing everything that will be available.
“We are ready to share our capabilities, even extending capacities as Turkey with Nigeria especially in the field of the defence industry and security which are being praised by the globe.
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope it will be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sister and our counterparts.
“The perpetrators of the heinous failed coup of July 15, FETO, is still very active in Nigeria. And we are continuously sharing our intelligence with Nigerian interlocutor and authorities,” he said.
Mr Erdogan pledged that his country would further cooperate with Nigeria on counter-terrorism as well as in the fields of military, defence and security. This followed the attack in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, which claimed several lives.
In his remarks, President Buhari heaped praises on his Turkish counterpart for opening his country’s borders to accommodate millions of refugees in dire need of humanitarian support.
According to Mr Buhari, the Turkish leader has set an example to the rest of the world on how to treat refugees.
“I commend Your Excellency for your leadership and generosity in receiving and accommodating 4 million refugees fleeing from conflict areas particularly in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
“You have indeed set an example to the rest of the world,” he said.
President Buhari described the two-day visit of President Erdogan and his wife, Mrs Emine Erdogan, as a reflection of the ‘‘robust, warm and cordial bilateral relation” between Nigeria and Turkey.
Modupe Gbadeyanka