Turkish President Erdoğan Calls Nigeria ‘Islamic Nation’ In Tweet Detailing Pacts Signed With Tinubu Govt
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s description of Nigeria as a ‘key partner in the Islamic world’ has sparked controversy among Nigerians, with citizens citing the country’s secular constitution and diverse religious demographics.
Nine agreements were signed between Türkiye and Nigeria on Tuesday in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The agreements were signed following one-on-one and delegation-level meetings at the Presidential Palace in Türkiye’s capital Ankara.
According to Tinubu’s aides, the two sides signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding covering cooperation in diaspora policy, media and communication, higher education, halal accreditation, military cooperation, and cooperation with diplomatic academies.
Both sides also adopted a joint declaration establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).
However, in a tweet detailing the pacts signed, Erdoğan described Nigeria as a strategic partner, highlighting cooperation on issues affecting the Islamic world, including Palestine, through OIC and D-8.
‘Nigeria is a country of strategic importance with which we maintain close cooperation on many issues concerning the Islamic world, especially Palestine, within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the D-8.‘
Nigeria’s ties with Turkey are being questioned due to concerns about the country’s secular constitution and diverse religious demographics. Nigerians argue Turkey’s growing influence might lead to Islamization or undermine Nigeria’s secular identity.
