Nigerians and the failed Coup in Turkey by Reuben Abati

Turkey is about five hours away from Nigeria by air, about 2, 634 miles from here, but the night there was a coup attempt in Turkey, July 15, with soldiers shutting down parts of Ankara and Istanbul, you'd think Ankara is a city somewhere in Nigeria and Istanbul is an extension of our country. Commentaries kept flying up and down on Nigeria social media space, with the coup attempt in Turkey becoming a trending topic. And yet the strongest connection between Nigeria and Turkey is probably trade, tourism, socio-cultural affinities, and the fact that many Nigerian travellers now find it easier and cheaper to travel through Turkey to other European capitals, with Turkish Airlines making all the profit and no Nigerian airline on that route! Still, if Turkey finds itself in a bad shape, as it has, that is not likely to affect the already sorry fortunes of the Naira or the forbidding cost of food items in Nigerian markets. On Friday, many Nigerians stayed awake and projected their own worst fears unto the Turkish situation. 

Controversy over Turkish Airlines arms shipment to Nigeria

THERE was controversy on Wednesday over reported arms shipment to Nigeria by two Turkish Airlines. The airline allegedly shipped weapons to unknown groups in the country, a development that AFP reports said was exposed by an incriminating phone call.
But the airline, with operations in the country, has denied the claim though it confirmed that it carried arms into Nigeria in accordance with international laws.
According to the French news agency, however, an Assistant Executive of the Turkish Airlines, Mehmet Karatas, in the leaked conversation allegedly told an advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mustafa Varank, that he felt guilty over the national flag carrier’s arms shipment to Nigeria.