Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and Turkish Ambassador, His Excellency Mehmet Poroy exchanging gifts
By Victoria Onehi
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,has said Nigeria will continue to strengthen bilateral relations particularly in visa facilitation and business mobility with Turkey.
Tunji-Ojo stated this while receiving the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mehmet Poroy, on a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Interior Headquarters in Abuja recently.
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.
In a statement by Head, Press & Public Relations,Mrs. Mary Ali,the Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to a smart, structured, and practical approach to international cooperation that supports people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo assured that denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish business people is not in the interest of either country. He emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, dialogue, and continuous improvement in visa administration. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s openness to legitimate investors and international business partners.
The Turkish Ambassador highlighted recent improvements in visa facilitation for Nigerian business people travelling to Turkey, following collaboration between Turkish authorities and Nigeria’s Ministry of Interior. Under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, with verified business persons benefiting from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.
Ambassador Poroy also raised concerns regarding Turkish business people 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.
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.
Ambassador Poroy acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing the Embassy’s procedures, as both parties agreed to sustain engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations.
