Tinubu to begin state visit to UK Tuesday

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.

The development was disclosed on Monday in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to him, the President will travel with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and several senior government officials to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK.

Onanuga said the visit would focus on expanding cooperation in areas such as immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.

During the visit, the British monarch will host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19, where they will view a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items connected to Nigeria.

According to the presidency, the trip marks the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years and the first time a Nigerian president will be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.

The two leaders are expected to hold private discussions and engage with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue both within the UK and internationally.

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 to support the rehabilitation of key maritime infrastructure, including the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

A state banquet is also expected to be hosted by the royal family in honour of the Nigerian delegation.

As part of the visit, Tinubu will hold talks with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street in London. The meeting is expected to expand bilateral engagement between senior officials of both countries.

The talks are expected to conclude with the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.

Members of the President’s delegation include Godswill Akpabio, Lateef Fagbemi, Dele Alake, Mohammed Idris, Bianca Ojukwu and Wale Edun.

Others are Jumoke Oduwole, Hannatu Musawa, Bosun Tijani, the Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.