President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Tuesday for a state visit to the United Kingdom, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, the Senate President, and several cabinet members.
Details of the trip were contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Nigerian leader will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19.
The presidency described the visit as the first state visit by a Nigerian head of government to Britain in 37 years and the first time a Nigerian leader would be received by a British monarch at Windsor Castle.
“The purpose of this visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues for collaboration on issues such as immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange,” the statement said.
While in Windsor, the royal hosts will invite the Nigerian President and his wife to view a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items linked to Nigeria. Both leaders will also hold private discussions and interact with groups engaged in interfaith dialogue at national and international levels.
A state banquet will be organised by the Royal Family in honour of the visiting Nigerian delegation.
Tinubu is also expected to hold talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is scheduled to lead to deeper engagement between officials of both countries and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The President will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing arrangement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance. The deal will support the rehabilitation of two key maritime facilities — the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
During the visit, Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition showcasing contemporary art and culture and will meet Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
Members of the delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
Others are Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria at the end of the visit.
