After four-year tenure, Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, has concluded his assignment and set to depart, leaving behind a legacy of strengthened bilateral relations.
During his final visit to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, Ambassador Bayraktar emphasised the nation’s immense potential and called for enhanced collaboration in various sectors.
During his tenure, the Ambassador visited numerous states, including Kano, Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom, Ekiti, Edo, and Taraba, gaining a comprehensive understanding of Nigeria’s diversity and potential. He described Nigeria as a beautiful country with immense potential and expressed his fondness for the Nigerian people. “The people are very nice. I would miss them. What is important, of course, is to know Nigerians and to understand them. Once you know them, your friendship becomes very strong,” Bayraktar said.
Between February 12th and 16th 2025 Ambassador Bayraktar engaged with key stakeholders, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with whom he discussed trade, cultural exchange, and potential partnerships in tourism and education. He also visited the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Ltd., meeting with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and highlighting the facility’s potential to transform Nigeria’s future. He said: “The main resource over here in Nigeria is petrol, and if you use the resource well, the wealth will be shared among the people.”
Ambassador Bayraktar highlighted the cultural similarities between Turkiye and Nigeria, emphasising the importance of family in both societies. He also noted the successful integration of Turkish nationals in Nigeria, with some even marrying Nigerians.
He urged Nigeria to capitalise on its agricultural sector, particularly in rural areas, and to embrace technology for sustainable development. He lauded Nigeria’s intellectual capacity, citing prominent figures like Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Hajia Aminah Mohammad, and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
To foster cultural understanding, the Ambassador promoted Nigerian artists through exhibitions at the Turkish Embassy. He emphasised his mandate to strengthen political, economic, social, and defense relations between Turkiye and Nigeria, and to protect the rights of Turkish citizens and companies.
He recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 2021 visit to Nigeria, which resulted in the signing of eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements. He urged the Nigerian government to expedite the ratification of key agreements, such as the Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments and the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation, to facilitate increased trade and investment.
Ambassador Bayraktar also highlighted the ongoing collaboration between Turkiye and Nigeria in combating terrorism, noting the acquisition of Turkish military equipment by Nigeria and the training of Nigerian military personnel in Turkiye. He expressed a desire for future technology sharing and joint ventures in defense production. “Both countries are regional powers in their respective areas and they have the same challenges: terrorism, insecurity, thus, we’re collaborating to strengthen the security architecture of the two countries,” he said.