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The Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, has announced plans to establish a Turkish visa application centre in Kano as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between Nigeria and Turkey.
He said the proposed visa centre would ease access for businesspeople in Kano and surrounding areas, eliminating the need to travel to Abuja for visa processing.
The ambassador disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Kano business community, including the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), describing the engagement as “successful, fruitful and result-oriented.”
“We will have good news and other facilities to increase people-to-people contact between business communities. A new Turkish visa application centre will be opened soon in Kano to facilitate easy access,” the ambassador said.
Chairman of the Nigeria-Turkey Business Council, Mr Dele Kelvin Oye, said the visit formed part of follow-up efforts after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trip to Turkey in January 2026.
He noted that stakeholders had been mandated to expand bilateral trade between both countries from $2 billion to $5 billion, stressing Kano’s strategic importance in achieving the target.
Oye described Kano as a major commercial hub responsible for over 30 per cent of Nigeria’s exports, adding that there was potential to increase this figure significantly through enhanced trade and investment.
“We are not just here for trade, but for trade and investment. As entrepreneurs, we see opportunities in solving problems, and that is how value is created for both investors and host communities,” he said.
President of KACCIMA, Usman Darma, said the visit would deepen existing economic ties between Nigeria and Turkey, particularly in agriculture, industry, and energy.
He noted that discussions also aligned with agreements reached during the recent presidential visit to Turkey, adding that Kano stands to benefit from expanded cooperation.
Darma confirmed that the proposed visa centre would improve access for local businesses seeking to engage with Turkish partners, while ongoing discussions with investors are expected to drive development projects in the state.
He also acknowledged concerns by local businesses regarding international payment systems, particularly the use of Letters of Credit, and assured that stakeholders would engage experts to address the challenges.
The meeting is part of broader efforts to strengthen economic relations and unlock new investment opportunities between Nigeria and Turkey.
