Nigeria, Turkey to Fix Bilateral Relations for Better Visa Facilitation

By Adedapo Adesanya

The governments of Nigeria and Turkey have agreed to collaborate on enhancing bilateral relations, with a focus on visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters.

The agreement followed a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mehmet Poroy, during a courtesy visit.

Mr Tunji-Ojo highlighted the strong historical and cultural ties between the two countries and Nigeria’s commitment to a “smart, structured, and practical approach to international cooperation” that promotes people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.

“These ties provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration,” he said.

Ambassador Poroy provided updates on improved visa facilitation for Nigerian businessmen traveling to Turkey, noting that “under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, allowing verified businesspersons to benefit from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.”

He also raised concerns about Turkish businesspeople facing challenges when visiting Nigeria for trade fairs and investments, citing conflicting information about Nigerian visa arrangements. “We request written clarification to guide applicants accurately,” Poroy said.

A key proposal during the meeting was the inclusion of Turkey in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system.

“The absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical challenges,” the Ambassador explained, adding that, “Including Turkey in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility for Turkish nationals.”

In response, Mr Tunji-Ojo assured that “denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish businesspeople is not in the interest of either country.”

He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to “transparency, dialogue, and continuous improvement in visa administration,” stressing Nigeria’s openness to legitimate investors and international business partners.

The discussion also addressed recognition of Nigerian marriage certificates by foreign missions. The Minister clarified that “all marriage certificates issued under Nigerian law are constitutionally valid and should not require additional verification.”

The Turkish Ambassador acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing embassy procedures, as both parties agreed on the importance of continued engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation.