President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for a state visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years.
He will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, during the visit which will run from March 18 to March 19. The Nigerian president is also set to become the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
According to the presidency, the visit aims to deepen long-standing relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom while exploring new areas of cooperation in immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
During the visit, King Charles III will host President Tinubu and the First Lady at Windsor Castle, where they are expected to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection linked to Nigeria. The two leaders will also hold private discussions and meet with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at both national and international levels.
A state banquet will be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian delegation.
As part of his engagements, President Tinubu will also hold bilateral talks with the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is expected to expand cooperation between both countries and culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
Tinubu will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance. The deal will support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities — the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex — in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s port infrastructure.
The President will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which showcases Nigerian modern art and culture, and participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
Members of the president’s delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu; and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.
Others in the delegation include Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Mohammed Mohammed.