President Muhammadu Buhari is on his way back to the country after attending the meeting of D-8 developing countries in Istanbul, Turkey.

The President left the Istanbul International Airport at 11:56 local time (09:56 Nigerian time) en route Abuja.

While in Turkey, President Buhari held some high-level talks with heads of states of some member countries of the D-8.

Speaking during the ninth summit, Buhari said the private sector and business communities in the economic organisation must be assisted with incentives to widen economic cooperation among member-states.

“As the D-8, we need to intensify our activities with a view to enhancing various measures and incentives introduced to promote trade and assist the business communities from member states to invest in our countries and widen our cooperation.

“We need to work hard to establish integrated manufacturing structures and markets. I will like to reiterate the importance of increasing trade and investment among our Member States,” he said.

He also held talks with the host, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, during which both leaders pledged to increase trade ties between Nigeria and Turkey.

They also vowed to increase investment and cooperate in the fight against extremist groups including Boko Haram jihadists.

“There are a lot of potentialities in terms of investment. Already a lot is being done in the education and the health sectors,” said Buhari.

“This will be strengthened and Nigeria is prepared to receive Turkish business people to come and explore more of Nigeria’s potentialities,” he added.

Erdogan said he believed both sides would push trade volumes above $1.245 billion. “Turkish business people are ready to take on the development of Nigeria,” he said.

At a time of tense relations with the European Union and the United States, Turkey has been moving to broaden its influence in Africa, opening new diplomatic missions and air links.

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