Nigeria, Turkey discuss visa facilitation, business mobility
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Monday received the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, where they discussed strengthening bilateral relations, with particular focus on visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters.
The discussions highlighted the need to ease travel for businesspeople and enhance practical cooperation between the two countries.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the meeting as timely and substantive, noting that Nigeria and Turkey share strong historical and cultural ties that provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a structured and practical approach to international cooperation that supports people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.
Ambassador Poroy highlighted recent improvements in visa processing for Nigerian business travellers to Turkey, explaining that verified applicants now benefit from faster timelines of three to four days due to local processing arrangements.
He also flagged concerns about Turkish businesspeople visiting Nigeria and requested clear guidance to reduce confusion over visa requirements.
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.
A key request made during the meeting was 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, and inclusion in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility.
Responding, Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured that denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish businesspeople 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.
