Nigeria and Türkiye have finalised an agreement for the immediate deployment of 200 Nigerian Special Forces personnel to Türkiye for advanced training, the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, has confirmed.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2026) in Antalya on Saturday, following talks with his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, Musa said the training quota had been allocated and deployment would begin promptly upon his return.
“Türkiye has agreed to provide training for 200 of our Special Forces. As soon as I return, we are sending them here,” Musa said. “We will also conduct joint exercises, with the first scheduled later this year. In many defence areas, we intend to work together.”
The two nations have also agreed to co-produce defence equipment and transfer military technology. Musa noted that Türkiye, which has fought terrorism for 40 years, offers valuable experience for Nigeria, which has been engaged in asymmetric warfare against insurgency for approximately 17 years.
“We have agreed to partner on co-production of military hardware, training, industrial development, and the exchange of officers and soldiers,” he added, describing Türkiye as “family to Nigeria since 1960.”
The three-day Antalya forum, themed “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” drew world leaders, ministers, and diplomats from some 150 countries, including 20 heads of state and government.
