By Nkechi Eze
The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Nigeria, Mr Mehmet Poroy, has disclosed a significant decline in the number of irregular Nigerian migrants in Türkiye, revealing that the figure has dropped from about 9,000 to fewer than 5,000. He attributed the development to improved cooperation and sustained engagement between both countries on migration management and diplomatic coordination.
The disclosure was made during a strategic visit to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), where Ambassador Poroy met with the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; the Secretary to the Commission, Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi; and other senior officials, alongside members of the Turkish delegation. The visit was confirmed in an official signed statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Ambassador Poroy explained that before his assumption of office, Nigeria ranked fourth among countries with the highest number of irregular migrants in Türkiye. He noted that Nigeria has now fallen out of the top six, a development he described as a clear indicator of progress resulting from strengthened bilateral cooperation and effective engagement between relevant authorities in both countries.
He also provided insights into the growing presence of Nigerian students in Türkiye, disclosing that about 4,600 Nigerian students are officially registered and studying across Turkish institutions. In addition, he said another 3,700 Nigerian students are currently pursuing their education in Northern Cyprus, reflecting expanding educational linkages and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and Türkiye.
The ambassador further highlighted a recurring challenge that had previously strained migration processes, particularly the issue of forged Schengen visas and falsified travel documents. He commended the Nigerian Embassy and relevant stakeholders for their collaboration and vigilance, noting that joint efforts have led to a drastic reduction in such incidents and improved integrity in travel documentation.
According to Ambassador Poroy, the primary purpose of his visit to NiDCOM was to formally present a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission. He explained that the proposed agreement is aimed at promoting a mutually beneficial economic partnership, with strong prospects for increased investment flows, enhanced technical cooperation, and the creation of sustainable job opportunities for citizens of both countries.
He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations with Nigeria, stressing that structured cooperation through the proposed MoU would further deepen ties beyond migration management and open new avenues for economic and cultural collaboration.
In her response, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration in addressing the challenges associated with illegal migration involving Nigerians in Türkiye. She welcomed the proposed Memorandum of Understanding and assured that NiDCOM would work closely with the Turkish Embassy to finalise the agreement in a timely manner.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the focus would be on ensuring prompt execution of the MoU and delivering tangible outcomes that would positively impact Nigerians in the diaspora, while strengthening institutional frameworks for safe migration, economic cooperation and diaspora engagement between Nigeria and Türkiye.
