By Adekunle Oluwafunmilayo
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, alongside the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom, following an official announcement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The Nigerian leader and his wife are visiting as guests of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who will host them at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.
The visit marks the first State Visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years and makes President Tinubu the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by a British monarch at Windsor Castle.
According to the presidency, the visit is aimed at strengthening longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with a focus on key areas including immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
During the visit, President Tinubu and the First Lady will attend a special exhibition at Windsor Castle featuring items from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria. The President is also expected to hold private discussions with King Charles III and engage with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.
President Tinubu will also meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where both leaders are expected to deepen bilateral cooperation. The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural collaboration.
A major highlight of the visit will be 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 rehabilitating key maritime infrastructure, including the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President is also scheduled to attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, celebrating Nigerian arts and culture, and participate in a high-level reception with Nigerian and British business leaders, as well as members of the diaspora.
Members of the President’s delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio and several top government officials, among them Lateef Fagbemi, Dele Alake, Mohammed Idris, Bianca Ojukwu, Wale Edun, and Jumoke Oduwole.
Others on the delegation are Hannatu Musawa, Bosun Tijani, 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 at the conclusion of the State Visit.
