Nigeria: Turkiye - Nigeria Deploying Turkish Drones, Helicopters in Anti-Terror Operations - Envoy

What the report says

Turkiye’s ambassador to Nigeria said Turkish-supplied attack helicopters and uncrewed aerial vehicles are now being used by the Nigerian Armed Forces in counter-terrorism operations. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Mehmet Poroy said Nigerian troops are deploying the platforms in efforts against insecurity, especially in northern Nigeria, according to the Daily Trust report distributed by AllAfrica.

The report says the comments came amid broader defence cooperation between the two countries. Poroy also said both sides are discussing plans to set up local assembly and production facilities in Nigeria, which would deepen the supply chain for military equipment and reduce reliance on imports. The article did not say when those facilities might begin operating.

Training is another major part of the partnership. The report states that 200 Nigerian Special Forces personnel are currently in Turkiye for a two-month counter-terrorism course, and that the two governments plan to create a joint training centre in Nigeria with Turkish instructors. The envoy linked the cooperation to Turkiye’s experience with counter-insurgency and said such threats require military, economic and strategic coordination.

The story also places the defence ties in a wider relationship that dates back to Nigeria’s independence era, with officials aiming to expand bilateral trade toward $5 billion. The development matters because it shows how Nigeria is combining foreign military support, training and local capability-building in response to persistent security challenges.