Turkey To Open Visa Application Centre In Kano

The Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, has announced plans to establish a visa application centre in Kano to ease travel for business people and strengthen bilateral trade between Nigeria and Turkey.

Poroy disclosed this on Thursday during a visit by a Turkish delegation to the Kano Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), where he engaged stakeholders on investment opportunities.

He said the move would allow intending travellers, particularly business owners in Kano and the northern region, to process their visas without travelling to Abuja.

“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 easier access to visas,” the ambassador said.

Poroy described his meeting with the chamber as “fruitful and result-oriented,” noting that discussions centred on boosting trade and encouraging Turkish investments in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian-Turkey Business Council, Dele Kelvin Oye, said the visit followed recent engagements between the two countries aimed at expanding economic cooperation.

He said Nigeria and Turkey are targeting an increase in trade volume from $2bn to $5bn, adding that Kano remains a key commercial hub with strong export potential.

“We are not just here for trade; we are here for trade and investment. Kano has the capacity to scale up its export contributions significantly,” he said.

Oye added that investors are focusing on sectors where challenges can be transformed into economic opportunities, particularly in industrial development.

In his remarks, President of KACCIMA, Usman Darma, said the proposed visa centre would address longstanding difficulties business people face in obtaining travel documents.

He said the initiative aligns with existing agreements between Nigeria and Turkey and would enhance partnerships in agriculture, industry and energy.

Darma added that discussions were ongoing on potential investments and measures to resolve trade-related concerns, including payment systems.