Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to the United Kingdom on Tuesday for a high-level state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and the UK.
In a statement released on Monday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian leader will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, during the visit scheduled for March 18 to March 19.
During the trip, the Nigerian delegation will be hosted at Windsor Castle by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The engagement marks the first state visit by a Nigerian president to the United Kingdom in 37 years and the first time a Nigerian leader will be received by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in areas including trade, investment, immigration, and cultural exchange.
While at Windsor Castle, the royal hosts will invite President Tinubu and the First Lady to view a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring artefacts connected to Nigeria. The Nigerian president will also hold private talks with King Charles and participate in meetings with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at both national and international levels.
A state banquet will also be held in honour of the Nigerian delegation.
As part of the official engagements, Tinubu is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street. The discussions are expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering sectors such as trade, investment, defence cooperation and cultural partnerships.
The Nigerian president will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance. The deal will support the refurbishment of key maritime infrastructure, including the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
Beyond government meetings, Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition celebrating Nigerian arts and culture and will participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora.
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 Wale Edun and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole.
Other officials travelling with the president include Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, Defence Minister 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 after completing the two-day state visit.
