Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria Mehmet Poroy has urged a significant expansion of trade between Nigeria and Türkiye, targeting a rise to $5 billion in bilateral commerce. He made the call during a visit to Kaduna, where he met with officials from the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA). Poroy stated that current trade volumes are well below the two nations' potential, without providing specific figures. He emphasized Türkiye's interest in deepening investment ties, particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure. The ambassador noted that Turkish companies are already active in Nigeria's construction and textiles sectors. He also highlighted the need for stronger business-to-business engagements and improved policy coordination to remove trade barriers. KADCCIMA representatives expressed willingness to explore partnerships with Turkish firms, citing opportunities in agro-processing and industrial development.
Mehmet Poroy is pushing a $5 billion trade target that Nigeria has neither the capacity nor the policy framework to meet under current conditions. Turkish firms are already present in construction and textiles, but Nigeria's collapsing power and transport infrastructure limits meaningful expansion. Without concrete steps to fix domestic constraints, such trade ambitions remain aspirational. This conversation matters less for immediate gains than for exposing how far Nigeria's economy lags behind even middle-tier global partners.
