Aviation Minister, Turkish Diplomat Discuss Bilateral Cooperation on Radar Development

On Thursday, Festus Keyamo SAN, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, welcomed His Excellency Mehmet Poroy, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Nigeria, into the Minister’s office in Abuja. Poroy was joined by a high-level team on an official courtesy visit.
Mr. Akin Carkci, General Manager of Turkish Airlines Abuja, Mr. Muzaffer Hakan Tok, Head of Political Office, and Mr. Amadou Ndongo Thiam, Country Manager of ASELSAN Nigeria, were among the Turkish delegation.
Tunde Moshood, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development’s Special Advisor on Media and Communications, signed the statement that included these points.

at his speech, newly appointed Ambassador Poroy conveyed his sincere gratitude to the Honourable Minister for his steadfast support of Turkish Airlines in Nigeria, especially at the time of labor unrest involving some fired employees. In tackling delicate aviation issues, the ambassador praised the Minister’s professionalism, equity, and liberal approach, which he claimed shows Nigeria’s dedication to promoting international collaboration and respect for one another.
After a successful celebration of the Republic of Turkey’s 102nd anniversary, Ambassador Poroy stated that this visit is his first official engagement since returning to Nigeria. He reiterated his nation’s pleasure in its long-standing alliance with Nigeria, saying that Turkey is still dedicated to enhancing commercial and diplomatic relations, especially in the fields of technology and aviation.

In order to encourage commerce, investment, and people-to-people interaction between the two countries, the Ambassador emphasized recent initiatives started by the Turkish Embassy, such as the quick and easy issuing of tourist and business visas for Nigerians.
Speaking on air connectivity, Ambassador Poroy revealed that Turkish Airlines presently operates 12 weekly flights to Nigeria, including 7 to Lagos and 5 to Abuja. He asked the Minister to support an increase in frequency in order to accommodate the growing demand from passengers.
Additionally, he presented ASELSAN, a prominent Turkish defense and technology firm acknowledged as Europe’s radar center of excellence. ASELSAN offers both Early Warning Radar Systems (EWRS) and Air Surveillance Radar (AIR) solutions intended to provide complete coverage of national airspace, as well as high-tech radar systems that satisfy NATO and MIL-STD specifications. He clarified that the technologies can be used for both military and civilian purposes and that satellite communications infrastructure allows for remote operation.
In order to conduct an on-site inspection of ASELSAN’s radar facilities, Ambassador Poroy invited the Honourable Minister to visit Turkey in January 2026. During the visit, the Minister would have the chance to meet with his Turkish counterpart in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation in aviation and aerospace technology.
In response, he expressed gratitude to Turkey for its ongoing cooperation and investment in Nigeria’s aviation industry while extending a cordial welcome to the Turkish ambassador and his team. He praised Turkish Airlines for upholding excellent operating standards and reassured the envoy that the Ministry was prepared to back the airline’s request for more frequent flights.
In addition, the Minister accepted the invitation to travel to Turkey in January 2026, highlighting the significance of technological cooperation in radar development and airspace surveillance as Nigeria pushes its program for aviation modernization.
He expressed hope that the revived alliance with Turkey will lead to new opportunities for collaboration, improve air connectivity, and make a substantial contribution to both economic growth and national security.