Turkey has formally requested inclusion in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system as part of efforts to ease travel, remove visa bottlenecks, and deepen business and diplomatic relations between both countries.
The request was made on Tuesday in Abuja when the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. Discussions at the meeting focused on visa facilitation, investor mobility, and consular challenges affecting business travellers on both sides.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Mary Ali, Ambassador Poroy explained that the absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical difficulties for Turkish applicants, who currently must travel to Ankara to complete visa processes. He said inclusion in Nigeria’s e-visa regime would significantly simplify procedures and encourage more Turkish investors, traders, and business delegations to visit Nigeria.
Poroy also raised concerns about conflicting information on Nigerian visa requirements for Turkish citizens, noting that the lack of clarity has discouraged potential investors and business travellers. He requested formal written guidance to enable the Turkish Embassy to properly advise applicants.
Responding, Tunji-Ojo said restricting genuine business travellers was not in the interest of either Nigeria or Turkey. He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to transparency, dialogue, and continuous improvement in visa administration, stressing that Nigeria remains open to legitimate investors and international business partners.
The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation through smarter and more practical visa policies that support trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. He noted that unnecessary barriers to lawful travel undermine shared economic interests.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed recent progress on visa facilitation for Nigerian business travellers to Turkey. Poroy disclosed that Ankara has authorised its embassy in Abuja to issue visas directly to verified Nigerian businesspersons, resulting in significantly faster processing timelines of three to four days.
The talks also addressed the recognition of Nigerian marriage certificates by foreign missions. Tunji-Ojo clarified that all marriage certificates issued under Nigerian law are constitutionally valid and do not require additional verification. The Turkish ambassador acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing embassy procedures.
Both Nigeria and Turkey agreed to sustain engagement on visa reforms and consular cooperation, with visa facilitation emerging as a central pillar of their expanding diplomatic and economic relationship.
