President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in the United Kingdom on Tuesday afternoon, commencing the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the country in 37 years. The President, accompanied by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, landed at Stansted Airport ahead of a high-profile itinerary hosted by King Charles III.
The visit marks a significant diplomatic milestone, as Tinubu is the first Nigerian head of state to be hosted at Windsor Castle. Previous state visits by Nigerian leaders, including the last one by General Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, were traditionally centered at Buckingham Palace.
Official ceremonies are scheduled to begin Wednesday with a royal welcome at Datchet Road. The President will be received by the Prince and Princess of Wales before joining a carriage procession to Windsor Castle for a formal meeting with the King and Queen Camilla.
"This visit highlights the historic and strategic relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, a partnership built on deep diplomatic, economic, cultural, and democratic ties," said Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, in a statement released by the State House.
A central piece of the diplomatic mission is the expected signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance and the Nigerian Ports Authority. The deal is designed to fund the total refurbishment of the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port.
President Tinubu is also slated to hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, security cooperation, and migration management.
Beyond executive meetings, the President will attend a state banquet at St George’s Hall and view a special exhibition of Nigerian artifacts from the Royal Collection. The visit is scheduled to conclude on Thursday following an engagement with the Nigerian diaspora and a working lunch at Downing Street.