“There is No Difference between Boko Haram, DAESH and FETO” - Turkey Presidency

Holding a joint press conference with Nigerian President Buhari at the Presidential Complex, President Erdoğan said, “Boko Haram terror has claimed thousands of innocent lives. In our view, there is no difference between Boko

Haram, DAESH and FETO,” and added: “We stand with our Nigerian brothers in their fight against terror and are ready to share our experience and knowledge.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria held a joint press conference following their tête-à-tête and the meeting between delegations at the Presidential Complex.

Commencing his address by expressing his happiness to host President Buhari and his delegation in Turkey, President Erdoğan emphasized that Nigeria, with an amazing economic potential, a population of 182 million and a surface area of 924,000 km², is a global actor.

“WE STAND WITH OUR NIGERIAN BROTHERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST TERROR”

Stressing Turkey’s full solidarity with Nigeria, one of the top 10 contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions, under the roof of international organizations such as the UN and the OIC, President Erdoğan noted that they will further deepen this solidarity in the upcoming period. The President stated that during their meeting they exchanged views on numerous topics particularly relating to defense, education and energy and that they discussed the future steps to be taken.

Just like Nigeria, Turkey is also putting up a fight against bloody terrorist organizations and shares the same fate in this sense, President Erdoğan noted, and continued: “Boko Haram terror has claimed thousands of innocent lives and caused the displacement of 1.5 million people. In our view, there is no difference between Boko Haram, DAESH and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). Regardless of their names, claims and goals, they all are herds of terrorists feeding off the blood of the innocent. We stand with our Nigerian brothers in their fight against terror and I told my august brother Buhari that we are ready to share our experience and knowledge and to lend them every support.”

“WE EXPECT COOPERATION FROM NIGERIA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST FETO”

Recalling the July 15, 2016 coup attempt of FETO in which 250 citizens died a martyr’s, President Erdoğan underscored, “we expect cooperation from Nigeria in the fight against FETO,” and continued: “We all know very well that FETO is using educational institutions not to serve the citizens of the countries they are located in, but to recruit militants. We, as Turkey, are fighting against FETO not only for ourselves, but also for the security of our friends and brothers. Today we discussed the issue of cooperation against FETO. I believe these efforts will soon yield concrete results.”

TURKEY TO CONTINUE TO STAND WITH NIGERIA IN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

Noting that the annual trade volume between Turkey and Nigeria has risen from $682 million in 2016 to over $779 million in 2017, President Erdoğan expressed his hope that this figure will even exceed by year end $1.145 billion, the amount achieved back in 2015.

Drawing attention to Turkish private sector’s rising interest in Nigeria, President Erdoğan highlighted that they, during today’s meeting, looked for ways to further economic relations with Nigeria, Turkey’s second biggest trade partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and underscored that Turkey will continue to stand with Nigeria in terms of education and development aids.