Tinubu Begins Historic State Visit to UK Tuesday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, for a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian leader will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

The British monarch will host President Tinubu and his wife at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19.

The visit marks the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years and also makes Tinubu the first Nigerian president to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.

The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom and explore new opportunities for collaboration in areas including immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.

During their stay at Windsor Castle, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the President and the First Lady to a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria. The King and President Tinubu will also hold private discussions and meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue.

The Royal Family will further host a State Banquet in honour of the Nigerian delegation.

President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is expected to lead to expanded engagement between officials of both countries and the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.

The President will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance. The deal will support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities, the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

As part of the visit, President Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition showcasing modern Nigerian arts and culture and will also meet 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; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole.

Others are Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the end of the state visit.