Nigeria and Türkiye have formalised a wide-ranging defence cooperation agreement focused on military training, technology transfer, intelligence collaboration, and maritime security to enhance Nigeria’s national defence capacity.
The agreement was reached during high-level talks between Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), and Türkiye’s Defence Minister, Yasar Guler, at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Ministry of Defence said the discussions strengthened the longstanding defence ties between both nations and resulted in actionable commitments aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to the ministry, Türkiye proposed structured training programmes for Nigerian Armed Forces personnel covering Special Forces operations, counterterrorism, intelligence integration, counter-drone operations, counter-IED tactics, and United Nations pre-deployment preparation.
Both countries agreed to immediately deploy an initial group of Nigerian military personnel to Türkiye for specialised training and field exercises, with plans for expanded and scalable training engagements in the future.
The ministry also revealed plans to establish a major military training facility in Nigeria. While a temporary location will be used initially, both countries intend to develop a permanent coastal-based centre of excellence.
Beyond training, Nigeria and Türkiye agreed to deepen cooperation in defence industry development through technology transfer, maintenance support, and joint development initiatives.
The partnership, according to the ministry, will also leverage platforms such as IDEF 2026 to strengthen institutional collaboration and support Nigeria’s local defence production capacity.
FG to deploy 200 special forces to Türkiye for training
Türkiye further expressed readiness to provide Nigeria with advanced surveillance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellite-enabled monitoring technology, counter-drone capabilities, and specialised air and ground platforms.
The ministry added that both countries also agreed to begin technical discussions on integrated border management systems and improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
It noted that talks also addressed aircraft maintenance systems, logistics supply chains, and operational readiness, including possible acquisition and lifecycle support for helicopters and unmanned systems.
Speaking after the meeting, Musa described the agreement as a significant step in Nigeria’s defence diplomacy, noting that implementation would begin immediately, particularly in training deployments and technical cooperation.
He added that all agreements would be formally documented and processed through appropriate channels, with immediate actions including training deployments, technical exchanges on border surveillance, and planning for both temporary and permanent training facilities in Nigeria.
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