- Nigeria to Deploy 200 Special Forces to Türkiye For Advanced Training
- Türkiye has approved the training slots, and the Nigerian personnel will be deployed immediately after necessary arrangements are completed
- Both countries also agreed to expand cooperation in defence production and technology transfer
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has announced that Nigeria and Türkiye have finalised an agreement for the training of 200 Nigerian Special Forces personnel.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Musa made this known during an interview on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026 held in Antalya, where he met with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.
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According to him, Türkiye has approved the training slots, and the Nigerian personnel will be deployed immediately after necessary arrangements are completed. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s military capacity and improve its response to security challenges.
“We have a Special Forces training agreement. Türkiye has agreed to train 200 of our personnel, and we will deploy them as soon as possible,” Musa said.
Beyond training, both countries also agreed to expand cooperation in defence production and technology transfer. Musa noted that Türkiye’s advancements in military hardware present a valuable opportunity for Nigeria to build its own defence manufacturing capacity through collaboration.
He added that joint military exercises are also planned, with the first expected to take place later in the year, as both nations deepen defence ties.
Highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two countries, the minister described Türkiye as a trusted partner, noting that both nations share similar experiences in tackling terrorism and asymmetric warfare.
Nigeria has battled insurgency for over 17 years, while Türkiye has decades of experience confronting terrorism. Musa said this shared background would enhance cooperation in training, intelligence exchange, and operational strategy.
The partnership is also expected to cover the exchange of military personnel and expertise, as well as improvements in Nigeria’s defence industrial base.
Earlier engagements between both countries included visits to ASELSAN, a leading Turkish defence firm specialising in advanced military systems, as Nigeria continues to explore areas of collaboration in security and technology.
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