By Paul Joseph
Nigeria has announced plans to deploy a 200-member special forces unit to Türkiye which is said to record about 98 percent Muslim dominated country for advanced military training, in a move aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation between the two nations.
The development was disclosed by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 held over the weekend.
According to Musa, Türkiye has already allocated a training quota for Nigerian special forces, adding that the troops will be redeployed into active service roles upon completion of the programme.
“We will continue to deepen collaboration across multiple fronts,” he said, noting that both countries are also planning joint military exercises and broader defense engagements.
Beyond training, Nigeria and Türkiye are exploring partnerships in defense manufacturing and military technology transfer. Musa emphasized that Türkiye’s growing capacity in defense production could support Nigeria’s efforts to tackle persistent security challenges, including insurgency and armed violence.
The latest move builds on recent high-level engagements between the two countries. On January 27, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visited Ankara for bilateral talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
During the visit, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties across key sectors, including trade, energy, education, and defense. Erdoğan described Nigeria as a strategic partner, highlighting ongoing coordination on regional and global issues.
The meeting culminated in the signing of nine agreements covering areas such as diplomacy, media cooperation, education, women’s affairs, and military collaboration. Key among them were a military cooperation protocol and the establishment of a Joint Economic and Trade Committee.
Analysts say the expanding partnership reflects a broader shift toward deeper security and economic ties between African nations and emerging global powers.
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