Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — Turkey has formally requested that the Federal Government of Nigeria include Turkish citizens in its electronic visa (e‑visa) system, in a bid to simplify visa procedures, ease business travel and strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. The appeal was made during a high‑level meeting in the Nigerian capital on Tuesday.
The request came from Mehmet Poroy, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Interior in Abuja, where he met with Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo. A statement issued by the ministry’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mary Ali, outlined that the proposal aims to make it easier for Turks — particularly investors, businesspeople and tourists — to obtain visas for Nigeria and expand bilateral cooperation.
Poroy explained that the absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul poses logistical challenges for Turkish applicants. Currently, Turkish nationals seeking Nigerian visas have to travel to the Nigerian embassy facility in Ankara to complete their applications, a process that is both time‑consuming and costly. Including Turkish citizens in Nigeria’s e‑visa platform would allow them to apply online, significantly reducing logistical burdens and enhancing business mobility.
Responding to the request, Minister Tunji‑Ojo reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to facilitating legitimate travel and international investment. He assured the ambassador that denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish business travellers was not in the interest of either country and emphasised ongoing efforts to improve transparency, dialogue and the efficiency of visa services. The minister reiterated that Nigeria remains open to foreign investors and business partners and committed to pragmatic visa administration.
The discussions also addressed concerns about faster visa processing for Nigerian business travellers to Turkey, with Poroy highlighting recent arrangements that allow Nigerian businesspeople to have their Turkish visa applications processed locally in Nigeria within about three to four days, a substantial improvement over previous procedures.
In addition to e‑visa access, the talks covered clarification of document requirements, including the recognition of Nigerian marriage certificates, which Minister Tunji‑Ojo clarified are constitutionally valid and should not require additional verification when used for visa applications. Ambassador Poroy acknowledged the concern and pledged to review relevant procedures at the Turkish diplomatic missions.
Both sides reaffirmed their interest in deepening bilateral cooperation and creating visa systems that support people‑to‑people exchanges, trade, investment and tourism. The meeting underscored shared historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Turkey as a strong foundation for enhanced partnership and economic engagement.
The push for e‑visa inclusion reflects a broader trend toward digitalisation of travel documents, which has been embraced by many countries to boost efficiency and accessibility. For Nigeria, expanding its e‑visa regime to include more nationalities could improve the ease of doing business and attract foreign direct investment, an outcome that aligns with government priorities for economic expansion.
If successful, Turkish inclusion in Nigeria’s e‑visa system could become a model for future agreements with other countries facing similar visa access challenges, and strengthen Nigeria’s position as an attractive destination for global business and tourism.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments