Wike Seeks Stronger Economic Ties as Turkish Ambassador Visits FCT

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has restated his administration’s commitment to deepening economic and bilateral relations with the Republic of Turkey. He made this known on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, at his office in Abuja.

Wike explained that the FCT Administration is willing to explore partnerships with cities in Turkey, particularly Istanbul, towards creating opportunities for accelerating economic growth and business-friendly environments. He added that a good number of Turkish nationals currently doing business in Abuja would also benefit from better cooperation between the two countries.

“We want to see how we can partner, particularly with Istanbul, to improve economic relations,” he said. “It is our intention to provide an atmosphere where citizens can carry out their businesses without molestation.”

The minister commended the ambassador for addressing the long-standing concerns surrounding visa applications for Nigerian entrepreneurs seeking to visit Turkey and said the recent easing of the process would help strengthen the commercial ties.

Wike assured the visiting delegation of the administration’s readiness to support Turkish interests in the FCT, urging them to reach out anytime assistance is required.

Ambassador Poroy, who has been in Nigeria for six months, said Wike was among the first officials he intended to meet, noting the importance of economic cooperation between both countries. He confirmed that visa procedures had been simplified, and now the embassy in Abuja could issue visas directly without referring each application to Ankara

He said plans were well underway to establish a Consulate General in Lagos, as part of the efforts to enhance bilateral engagement. Poroy also utilized the visit to commend the FCT Administration for the quality of services provided to the diplomatic community and expressed appreciation on behalf of himself and other diplomats residing in Abuja.