The Nigerian and Turkish governments have entered into discussions on how to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters.
Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this when the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mehmet Poroy paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the meeting as substantive and timely, noting that Nigeria and Turkey share strong historical and cultural ties that provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a smart, structured, and practical approach to international cooperation that supports people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.
The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Mehmet Poroy in his remarks highlighted the recent improvement in visa facilitation for Nigerian business people travelling to Turkey, following collaboration between the Turkish authorities and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior.
He informed that under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, with verified business persons benefiting from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.
Visitation to Nigeria
Ambassador Poroy also raised concerns regarding Turkish business people seeking to visit Nigeria for trade fairs, investments, and other commercial activities. He noted the conflicting information on Nigerian visa arrangements for Turkish citizens and requested written clarification to guide applicants accurately.
A key request made during the meeting was the inclusion of Turkey in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system.
The Ambassador also explained that the absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical challenges, as applicants must travel to Ankara. He also noted that the inclusion in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility.
Responding, Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured the ambassador that the denial of 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, while reaffirming Nigeria’s openness to legitimate investors and international business partners.
The meeting also addressed the 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.
Ambassador Poroy while acknowledging the concerns, pledged the commitment of the Embassy in reviewing it’s procedures. Both parties agreed to sustained engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations.