From Elohor Igbru, Abuja
Recep Erdogan, the president of Turkey has told Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari that terrorists who tried to remove him from office
Erdogan said this on Wednesday at a joint press conference with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the occasion of
his two-day official visit to the country.
In 2016, President Erdogan had accused allies of renowned cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who own Turkish schools and hospitals across Nigeria,
of sponsoring the coup.
Turkish envoy in Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, had at the time called on Buhari to close the Turkish schools and hospitals in Nigeria belonging
to a group of private Turkish investors who are inspired by the philosophy of the Hizmet movement.
The Nigerian government had, however, rejected the proposal, causing tension between both countries.
But eager to mend fences with Nigeria, the Turkish President said he is willing to share intelligence with Nigeria a “ brotherly and
friendly” country to defeat terrorism.
Erdogan: “As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria, our brotherly and friendly nation. The terrorist
organisations, the armed gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously
fighting them.
“In order to cooperate further in the field of military operations, defence and security, we are doing everything that will be available.
We are ready to share our capabilities, every extending capacity as Turkey with Nigeria, especially in the field of defence, industry and
security which are being praised by the globe.
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope will be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sister and our counterparts.
The perpetrators of the heinous failed coup of July the 15 FETO are still very active in Nigeria. And we are continually sharing our
intelligence with Nigerian interlocutors and authorities.”
He also hoped to expand trade volume from the current $2bn to $5bn between Nigeria and his country while promising a win-win relationship
with the country.
President Buhari said he signed eight major agreements/Memoranda of Understanding on several key sectors including energy, defense
industry, mining and hydrocarbons among others.
The implementation of the eight agreements would commence immediately.
