President Bola Tinubu on Monday night arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, on a state visit aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties between both countries.

The presidential aircraft touched down at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport at exactly 9:03 p.m. local time, where Tinubu was received by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin.

Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Türkiye, Zayyad Abdulsalam, alongside other embassy officials, was also present to welcome the President.

On arrival at his hotel, Tinubu was received by senior members of his delegation, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; and Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa.

Also on hand were the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh; Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh; Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson; Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is designed to strengthen the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and Türkiye while expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

During the state visit, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on trade, investment, defence cooperation and other strategic sectors.

The programme of activities also includes the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding aimed at advancing a mutually beneficial partnership between the two nations.