Tuesday January 13, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Federal Government has expressed willingness to collaborate with the Turkish government to deepen relationships in the areas of visa applications, approvals, and business opportunities for their respective citizens.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated this in Abuja shortly after he received the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mehmet Poroy, on a courtesy visit.
Dr Tunji-Ojo and the Turkish envoy’s discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in visa facilitation and approvals, as well as business mobility and consular matters.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the meeting as substantive and timely, noting that Nigeria and Turkey shared strong historical and cultural ties that provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration.
The Minister in a statement by the head of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Mrs Mary Ali 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 highlighted recent improvements in visa facilitation for Nigerian business people travelling to Turkey, following collaboration between Turkish authorities and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior.
According to him, under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, with verified business persons benefiting from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.
Ambassador Poroy also raised concerns regarding Turkish businesspeople seeking to visit Nigeria for trade fairs, investments, and other commercial activities. He noted conflicting information on Nigerian visa arrangements for Turkish citizens and requested written clarification to guide applicants accurately.
He requested the inclusion of Turkey in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system. The Ambassador explained that the absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical challenges, as applicants must travel to Ankara, stating that inclusion in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility.
Responding, Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured that denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish business people 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 acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing the Embassy’s procedures, as both parties agreed to sustained engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations.
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