The special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy communication, Daniel Bwala, has said the president’s visit to Turkey is a calculated move based on clear national interests.
President Tinubu arrived in Turkey on Monday for a state visit focused on deepening bilateral ties between both countries.
Addressing journalists in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, Bwala explained that the visit followed an invitation from the Turkish government.
He said the trip underscores Tinubu’s stature as a former leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigeria’s influence within Africa.
“No, it’s not another trip. It’s a strategic trip,” Bwala said.
“First of all, it’s an invitation by this government, because of course you know the President of Nigeria was a leader of ECOWAS. He’s a person of influence in Africa.”
According to Bwala, Nigeria’s “recent progress” in economic reforms, security efforts and political stability has further strengthened the importance of the visit.
“With the exceptional breakthrough that we’re having in all fields in Nigeria — in the economy, in the area of security, politics, and all that — the president showed up today for the state visit,” he said.
He noted that official engagements were expected to begin from the following day, with discussions centred on areas of mutual benefit.
“We’re looking to the programme probably starting from tomorrow.
“We’ll look at those areas of possibilities that the two parties are going to explore, especially in the area of defence, security, and the economy.”
Bwala added that ministers overseeing the relevant portfolios accompanied the president to support bilateral negotiations.
“In fact, we have the ministers of the various fields that we intend to have bilateral talks on,” he said.
“They are also on this trip and ready to go.”
Commenting on Nigeria’s expanding diplomatic ties with Middle Eastern countries, Bwala cited Tinubu’s recent engagement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an example.
“The president is a very influential leader that world leaders know,” Bwala said.
“That’s because of the personality and the leadership that the president brings on board.”
He pointed out that Turkey’s capabilities in defence and security align closely with Nigeria’s priorities.
“Historically, they are good in the area of security. They also have the capacity to produce weapons that are key and critical to what we need,” he said.
Bwala noted that long-standing relations between both countries have seen sustained Turkish investments in Nigeria, as well as reciprocal value from Nigeria to Turkey.
“You will also see the value Nigerian people and the Nigerian government have over the years brought to the Republic of Turkey.”
He described the visit as one built on shared interests, with expectations of concrete outcomes.
“So this is a shared meeting for shared interests. It is also a meeting that we’re looking to, at the end of the day, give you information on the deliverables that will come out of it,” he said.
Bwala added that details of agreements reached and priority areas discussed would be made public after the meetings conclude.