Erdoğan to visit Nigeria and two other African countries on Sunday

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Nigeria, Angola and Togo next week as he embark on a 4-day diplomatic tour of Africa.

Erdoğan,who has officially visited 28 African countries to date will depart Turkey to Africa on Sunday, October, 17 with first stop at Angola, then Nigeria and finally Togo.

Report say the trip is significant as Turkey is hosting two important events in Istanbul: a two-day Turkey-Africa 3rd Economy and Business Summit on October, 21, and a two-day Turkey-Africa 3rd Partnership Summit on December, 17.

Turkish embassies in Africa, has increased from just 12 in 2002 to 43 in 2021.

In his first stop in Angola, Erdoğan is expected to meet his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourencho as well as attend a forum with business people from both countries.

Erdoğan will also meet Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and attend the Turkey-Nigeria Business Forum on his second visit to the West African country.

Steps will be taken to harness the true potential of the two countries' relations during the talks, which will include bilateral economic and regional developments. Three agreements in the fields of hydrocarbons, mining, and energy are also expected to be signed.

Nigeria is Turkey's top trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a trading volume of $754 million in 2020, which is expected to rise to more than $1 billion.

Fight against the FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey, will also be discussed during the Turkish president's visit.

This will include a request to transfer FETÖ schools that continue to operate in several parts of Nigeria to the Turkish Maarif Foundation.

Togo will be Erdoğan's last stop, where he will discuss ways to improve bilateral relations and expansion of bilateral trade, which was $150 million in 2020.