President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a state visit to the United Kingdom, UK, on Tuesday, March 17, accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The Nigerian leader will travel from Abuja as a guest of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
During the visit, King Charles will host the President and the First Lady at Windsor Castle between Wednesday, March 18, and Thursday, March 19.
The visit marks the first time in 37 years that a Nigerian head of state will undertake a state visit to the UK.
“President Tinubu is also the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle,” the Presidency disclosed in a statement on Monday evening.
Nigeria and the UK maintain longstanding diplomatic relations rooted in shared history and cooperation across several sectors.
According to the Presidency, the visit aims to deepen bilateral ties and identify new opportunities for cooperation in areas including immigration management, trade, investment and cultural exchange.
As part of the programme at Windsor Castle, the British monarchs will invite President Tinubu and his wife to view a special exhibition from the Royal Collection highlighting artefacts connected to Nigeria.
King Charles and the Nigerian President are also expected to hold private talks and participate in meetings with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue both within the UK and internationally.
In addition, the Royal Family will organise a state banquet in honour of the visiting Nigerian delegation.
“President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, which will lead to expanded bilateral engagement between senior officials of the two countries.
“The meeting will culminate in the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
“President Tinubu will witness the signing of the landmark £746 million financing deal between the UK Export Finance, UKEF, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s major national maritime infrastructure – the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
“The President will be the guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, showcasing modern arts and culture, and will also attend a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders and the diaspora community,” the statement signed by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, partly read.
Members of the President’s delegation for the trip include Godswill Akpabio; the attorney general of the federation 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 listed in the entourage are the minister of culture and creative economy, Hannatu Musawa; minister of communications and digital economy, Bosun Tijani; minister of defence, Christopher Musa; the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and director-general of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after completing the state visit.
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