President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Türkiye, on a state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President’s aircraft touched down at exactly 9:03 p.m. local time.
President Tinubu was received at the Ankara Esenboğa Airport by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin. Also present to welcome him were the Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, alongside other embassy officials.
At the President’s hotel, he was received by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd).
Other dignitaries at the hotel reception included the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, SAN; Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson; Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
The state visit is focused on deepening the longstanding cordial relationship between Nigeria and Türkiye, as well as exploring new areas of cooperation to enhance mutually beneficial partnerships.
During the visit, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The visit will also feature the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between both countries, alongside other official engagements.