President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will depart Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, for a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom as guests of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
King Charles will host President Tinubu and his wife at Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18, to Thursday, March 19.
The visit marks the first State Visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years. President Tinubu will also be the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom share long-standing historical ties and a close bilateral relationship. The visit aims to further strengthen cooperation between both nations and explore new opportunities for collaboration in areas such as immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
During their stay at Windsor Castle, Their Majesties will host the President and the First Lady for a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items connected to Nigeria. The British monarch and the Nigerian President are also expected to hold private discussions and meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue at both national and international levels.
A State Banquet will be held in the evening in honour of the Nigerian guests.
President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street, aimed at expanding diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
As part of the visit, the President will witness the signing of a landmark £746 million financing deal between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities—the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
President Tinubu will also attend the Nigerian Modernism Exhibition, which will showcase Nigeria’s modern arts and cultural heritage. In addition, he will participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora community.
Members of the President’s entourage include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals Development 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 conclusion of the State Visit.
