Nigeria has concluded arrangements to deploy 200 Special Forces personnel to Türkiye for advanced military training, as part of efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, made this known on Saturday during the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum, following a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler.
According to Musa, the deployment is based on a newly established Special Forces training agreement between Nigeria and Türkiye. He noted that the troops would be sent immediately upon his return to Nigeria.
“We have a Special Forces training agreement. Türkiye has agreed to train 200 of our personnel, and as soon as I return, we are sending them for training,” he said.
The minister explained that the collaboration marks a new phase in defence relations between both countries, extending beyond training to include joint military exercises expected to commence later this year.
“We will continue to do a lot together. There will be exercises, with the first scheduled for later in the year. In many areas of defence, we are going to work closely,” he added.
Musa also disclosed plans to deepen cooperation in defence production and technology transfer, describing Türkiye as a strategic partner in Nigeria’s military development.
He emphasized that Türkiye’s experience in counterterrorism would significantly support Nigeria’s efforts in tackling asymmetric security threats.
“We are going to partner on co-production of some defence equipment and expand collaboration through training exchanges and shared expertise,” Musa stated.
The move is seen as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to enhance military capacity and improve its response to ongoing security challenges across the country.
