Buhari speaks with Erdogan, offers support to Turkey over raging wildfires

President Muhammadu Buhari has offered support to Turkey over the recent wildfires that ravaged the country.

Over two hundred wildfires have burnt 1,600 square kilometres of Turkey’s forest in the last few weeks.

The wildfires, said to be the worst in Turkey’s history, affected houses, farmland, and wildlife in several parts of the country.

Garba Shehu, the president’s spokesperson, in a statement issued on Sunday, said Buhari rang Recep Tayyep Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart, to convey the sympathies of the Nigerian government.

Shehu said the president recalled the fraternal relations between Nigeria and Turkey while expressing condolences over the loss of lives and property.

“I wish to express the solidarity of the Government and people of Nigeria with the Government and people of Turkey at this critical trying time. I offer the readiness of Nigeria to extend its modest support in any manner that may be required by Turkey,” the president was quoted as saying.

Shehu said the president extolled the “heroic response by Turkish emergency teams and the exemplary leadership of President Erdoğan in handling the disaster, and assured the president of Nigeria’s commitment to sustained progress in her bilateral relations with Turkey”.

He added that the president prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.