President Bola 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 President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced on Monday.
The President will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and other members of his cabinet to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the UK, particularly in the areas of immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
According to Onanuga, the British monarch will host President Tinubu and the First Lady at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19 to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to Nigeria. This will mark the first 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.
“Later, the King and the President will hold private discussions and meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue, both nationally and internationally,” the statement said.
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President Tinubu is also expected to witness the signing of a £746 million financing deal between the UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two major national maritime infrastructures: the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The royal family is expected to host a state banquet in honour of the Nigerian delegation. President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, after which senior officials from both countries are expected to expand engagements, culminating in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
Members of President Tinubu’s entourage 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 and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.