Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for a state visit to the United Kingdom following an invitation from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the President will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, alongside key cabinet members, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in areas such as immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The British monarch is expected to host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19, where they will view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection linked to Nigeria.
Onanuga noted that the visit marks the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, adding that President Tinubu is the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
During the visit, both leaders will hold private discussions and engage with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at national and international levels. A state banquet will also be hosted in honour of the Nigerian delegation by the royal family.
A major highlight of the trip will be President Tinubu’s participation in the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance. The deal is aimed at refurbishing key maritime infrastructure, including the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is expected to expand diplomatic and economic engagements between both nations and culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
Members of the President’s entourage include Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu.
Others are Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani; Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
The visit is expected to deepen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom while opening new opportunities for cooperation across key sectors.
