By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
Abuja
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey, particularly in visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters. This was during a courtesy visit by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mehmet Poroy, at the Ministry of Interior Headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo described the meeting as substantive and timely, noting that Nigeria and Turkey share strong historical and cultural ties that provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration. He emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to a smart, structured, and practical approach to international cooperation that supports people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.
The Turkish Ambassador highlighted recent improvements in visa facilitation for Nigerian businesspeople travelling to Turkey, following collaboration between Turkish authorities and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior. Under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, with verified businesspersons benefiting from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.
Ambassador Poroy also raised concerns regarding Turkish businesspeople seeking to visit Nigeria for trade fairs, investments, and other commercial activities. He noted conflicting information on Nigerian visa arrangements for Turkish citizens and requested written clarification to guide applicants accurately.
A key request made during the meeting was the inclusion of Turkey in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system. The Ambassador explained that the absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical challenges, as applicants must travel to Ankara, and inclusion in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility.
Responding, Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured that denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish businesspeople is not in the interest of either country. He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, dialogue, and continuous improvement in visa administration.
The meeting also addressed the recognition of Nigerian marriage certificates by foreign missions. The Minister clarified that all marriage certificates issued under Nigerian law are constitutionally valid and should not require additional verification.
The discussions have set the stage for strengthened bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Turkey, with a focus on promoting legitimate business engagement and people-to-people contact.
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