Nigerian news outlets widely cover Turkish president's visit

By Adam Abu-bashal

ABUJA, Nigeria (AA) - A recent visit to Nigeria by Turkey's president has been widely covered by media outlets in the West African nation.

Some of the most well-known Nigerian outlets, such as the Daily Trust, Punch, and Channels TV, headlined statements by Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.

"Terrorists who tried to overthrow me are in Nigeria –Turkey President," wrote the daily Punch on Thursday, a day after the Daily Trust used the headline: "Turkish President: Terrorists Who Tried To Oust Me Are In Nigeria."

"Erdogan asked Nigeria to join his country to forge a solidarity in the fight against terrorism in the two countries as one of the oldest allies of Turkey in Africa, having seen 60 years of diplomatic ties," the Daily Trust reported.

"As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the developments unfolding in Nigeria, our brotherly and friendly nation," the daily quoted Erdogan as saying. "The terrorist organisations, the armed gangs, and the marine bandits are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting against them. So, in order to cooperate further in the fields of military, defense, and security, we are doing everything that will be available."

The Premium Times, one of the country's leading news websites, also used the headline: "Buhari praises Erdogan as Nigeria, Turkey sign eight bilateral agreements."

"President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja heaped praises on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for opening his country's borders to accommodate millions of refugees in dire need of humanitarian support," it added.

The Nigerian president also said the official visit by Turkey's president and first lady Emine Erdogan, was a reflection of the "robust, warm and cordial bilateral relation" between Nigeria and Turkey, it said.

According to the report, the two leaders signed major agreements on a number of key sectors, including energy and the defense industry.

Two other newspapers, The Authority and The Sun, also reported that the first lady Erdogan also opened a branch of a Turkish cultural center under the country's Yunus Emre Institute in the capital Abuja during their visit.

President Erdogan on Wednesday concluded a four-day Africa tour during which he paid official visits Angola, Togo, and Nigeria.​​​​​​​