Tinubu, wife begin historic state visit to United Kingdom

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu will today depart Abuja for a historic two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

It marks the first State Visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in decades.

It will also make President Tinubu the first Nigerian President to be received by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.

The Presidency said the visit is intended to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960.

The visit is expected to open new avenues for cooperation in key areas, including immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.

The two countries are major partners in trade, which reached £8.1 billion ($11 billion) in September 2025.

Fresh momentum is building around Nigeria’s global engagement as sweeping economic reforms introduced by President Tinubu begin to reshape international perceptions of the country.

According to the schedule of the visit, the British monarch Queen Camilla will host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle tomorrow.

During the visit, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host the President and the First Lady to a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items related to Nigeria.

The programme will also include private discussions between the monarch and the Nigerian leader, as well as a joint engagement with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.

A ceremonial welcome will take place along Datchet Road, featuring the playing of national anthems and the inspection of a guard of honour.

Following the ceremony, the Nigerian leader will join a carriage procession to Windsor Castle, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla will receive him.

The programme includes a formal reception, a 21-gun salute and a state luncheon at St George’s Hall.

In London, he is expected to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Westminster before meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street for bilateral talks and a working lunch.

A State Banquet will be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of President Tinubu and his delegation.

President Tinubu’s meeting with Starmer is expected to culminate in the signing of a series of Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.

President Tinubu will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The financing package will support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities – the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

The President will further attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition as a guest of honour.

He will participate in a reception featuring Nigerian and British business leaders, as well as Nigerians in the United Kingdom.

Members of the President’s delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

Others are Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd).

Also accompanying the President are the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after Thursday’s conclusion of the visit.

Idris said the growing confidence among global investors in Nigeria’s economy is a direct outcome of the administration’s bold economic and governance reforms.

According to a statement by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister spoke in London during a World Press Conference ahead of the visit.

He said the visit underscores the historic and strategic relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“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,” the minister said.

According to him, the London engagement provides an opportunity to deepen collaboration between both countries in critical areas such as trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, education and technological innovation.

Idris noted that Nigeria’s democracy has continued to grow stronger after more than two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999, supported by vibrant institutions, an active civil society and a dynamic media environment.

He added that the Tinubu Administration is focused on ensuring that democracy delivers tangible benefits to citizens through the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic stability, expanded opportunities, stronger social protection and long-term national development.

Highlighting key policy decisions of the administration, Idris cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and the harmonisation of multiple foreign exchange regimes as reforms designed to restore fiscal transparency, promote economic sustainability and improve investment predictability.

According to him, these measures, alongside presidential executive orders in the oil and gas sector, have made Nigeria Africa’s most attractive destination for oil and gas investment for two consecutive years, attracting more than $8 billion in Final Investment Decisions from major international companies.

“Each of these investment dollars represents jobs for Nigerians, technical skills development, revitalised communities and stronger revenues for governments at all levels,” the minister said.

He said Nigeria will soon launch a historic Customs Single Window, a unified digital platform designed to connect trade agencies, importers and exporters, streamline documentation processes and significantly improve efficiency in international trade.

Idris said Nigeria recently exited the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list after implementing significant reforms to combat money laundering and illicit financial flows.

The development, he said, strengthens the country’s credibility within the global financial system and improves the ease of doing business.

The minister added that the government is implementing reforms in the mining sector to promote transparency, eliminate speculative licence holding and ensure that only serious investors participate in the development of Nigeria’s mineral resources.

According to him, early indicators of the reforms are already visible across the economy.

“Inflation has halved since 2023, trade surplus is expanding, and the Central Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index has recorded fifteen consecutive months of growth, reflecting renewed momentum in Nigeria’s manufacturing and services sectors,” he said.

Idris also said Nigeria’s external reserves have strengthened significantly, surpassing $50 billion as of February 2026, with part of the reserves now held in gold as part of the country’s diversification strategy.

He highlighted major infrastructure projects underway across the country, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, which he said are designed to improve economic connectivity and support industrial growth.

In the power sector, Idris said initiatives such as the Presidential Power Initiative, the Presidential Metering Initiative and the newly established Grid Asset Management Company are aimed at expanding electricity infrastructure and improving energy access.

The minister added that the administration is also prioritising human capital development, noting that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has already enabled more than one million students to access higher education without upfront tuition payments.

On security, Idris said the government has strengthened intelligence sharing and operational coordination among security agencies to tackle terrorism, banditry and organised crime, while expanding cooperation with international partners, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

He noted that the Nigerian Navy, ranked Africa’s strongest naval fleet in the 2026 Global Firepower Index, is leading the establishment of a Combined Maritime Task Force to secure the Gulf of Guinea.

Idris reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, peaceful coexistence and national unity, stressing that the country’s diversity remains one of its greatest strengths.

He emphasised Nigeria’s active role in regional and global affairs, particularly in peacekeeping operations, diplomacy and collective responses to challenges such as climate change, migration and energy security.

“We deeply value our long-standing partnership with the United Kingdom and look forward to strengthening collaboration in the years ahead,” the minister said.

…UK unveils programme for historic state visit

Tuesday -Windsor Castle
.Arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in the United Kingdom.

.Official welcome by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

.Ceremonial reception on Datchet Road, featuring: Playing of the national anthems of Nigeria and the United Kingdom and Inspection of the Guard of Honour.

.Carriage procession to Windsor Castle.

.Formal reception by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

.21-gun salute in honour of the visiting Nigerian president.

.State luncheon at St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.

.Bilateral meetings with senior British officials on trade, security, migration management and port development.

.Cultural exchange programme showcasing Nigerian artefacts and heritage.

.State banquet hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in honour of President Tinubu.

…Wednesday – London
.Private breakfast meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

.Departure from Windsor for London.

.Wreath-laying ceremony at The Cenotaph, Westminster, in honour of fallen servicemen.

.Bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.

.Working lunch with the British Prime Minister.

.Engagement with members of the Nigerian diaspora community in the United Kingdom.

.Signing of bilateral agreements at Buckingham Palace.

.Departure for Nigeria from RAF Northolt, concluding the State Visit.