UPDATE 2 - Turkey, Nigeria determined to further bilateral cooperation: Erdogan

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY NIGERIAN PRESIDENT; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; MINOR EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey is determined to further its cooperation with Nigeria in every field, the visiting Turkish president said Wednesday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari in the capital Abuja, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We are strengthening our cooperation in military defense and security issues with Nigeria, which is fighting terrorist organizations, armed gangs and piracy."

Turkey is ready to share its "opportunities and capabilities" in defense and security areas with Nigeria, he added.

Erdogan said Turkey continues to share "necessary information" on the terror group FETO's illegal activities in Nigeria.

He conveyed condolences to the loved ones of at least 43 people who lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Nigeria's Sokoto state on Monday.

Next year, Turkey and Nigeria will celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Erdogan said, mentioning that Nigeria hosts one of the oldest Turkish missions on the African continent.

"Being an important member of organizations such as D-8 (Organization for Economic Cooperation), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, ECOWAS (the Economic Community of West African States) and the African Union, Nigeria is among the leading countries of its region and the world," the Turkish president said.

"Nigeria's efforts to establish peace, stability and economic development on the African continent are admirable."

On the last stop of his three-nation Africa tour, Erdogan said, Turkey is "accelerating its relations with Africa" on the basis of "strategic partnership." Before Nigeria, he visited Angola and Togo.

Turkey currently has 43 embassies in Africa, the leader said, and it will host the Turkey-Africa 3rd Economy and Business Summit on Thursday, and the Turkey-Africa 3rd Partnership Summit on Dec. 17 in Istanbul.

Erdogan said he was glad that many young Nigerians are studying at universities in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), benefiting from Turkish scholarships.

- 'Very useful' discussions

Buhari, for his part, said they had "very useful" discussions on several bilateral issues, and reached a series of agreements.

Turkey and Nigeria signed seven agreements on taxation, mining, hydrocarbons, energy, and defense, as well as cooperation between youth and foreign ministries of both the countries.

Buhari also said Nigeria had removed the travel ban for Turkey imposed as part of coronavirus measures.

He thanked Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan, who attended the opening of a secondary school in Abuja, which was repaired by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

The Nigerian president hailed his Turkish counterpart for his "leadership and generosity" in accommodating 4 million refugees fleeing the conflict areas in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

"You have indeed set an example for the rest of the world," Buhari said.