President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has concluded a high-level working visit to Ankara, aimed at deepening bilateral relations and advancing Nigeria’s defense capabilities through strategic partnerships with the Republic of Türkiye.
Accompanying the President were the Honourable Minister of Defence (HMOD), General Christopher Gwabin Musa, and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke. The visit focused on expanding cooperation in national security, technological advancement, and the modernization of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
During the visit, President Tinubu held talks with his Turkish counterpart, resulting in the signing of nine (9) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These agreements span several critical sectors, including:
Defence and Technology
Trade and Education
Media and Institutional Cooperation
These MoUs establish a formal framework for skills transfer and access to advanced technologies, supporting Nigeria’s ongoing defense modernization and broader national development goals.
Advancing Air Power and Defence Industry
In a move to enhance the nation’s “smarter air power” initiative, the CAS and the HMOD engaged with Turkey’s leading defense industry firms, including ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), and HAVELSAN.
These engagements allowed the Nigerian delegation to:
Review and refine existing procurement arrangements.
Explore new initiatives for capability development.
Strengthen industrial cooperation between the two nations’ defense sectors.
Commitment to National Security
The visit aligns with Air Marshal Aneke’s objective of building a technology-driven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) capable of ensuring safer communities. Officials stated that the outcomes of these meetings reinforce the NAF’s commitment to operational effectiveness and long-term national stability.
The strategic collaboration with Türkiye is expected to provide the AFN with the tools necessary to address evolving security challenges, ensuring a future of improved safety and progress for all Nigerians.