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It is said that no one does ceremonies like the English. This was evident last week when Nigeria literally strutted the red carpet rolled out in her honor on the ancient and hallowed grounds of Windsor and 10 Downing Street.
When the curtain was brought down on President Bola Tinubu’s two-day official visit to the United Kingdom last Thursday, March 19, following his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, quite a few who witnessed the series of events put together to mark the visit or watched them live on television, and many others in Nigeria and around the world concluded that it was a historic and glorious moment for Nigeria, and for none other than President Tinubu. Whether you observe the ceremonies physically or on television, you would be proud to be Nigerian.
The pomp and ceremony that greeted the visit deserve to be repeated for their splendor, glory and grandeur. His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla received President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. The President reviewed the guard of honor and received a 42-gun salute from the Royal Horse Artillery of the King’s Troop. Later that evening President Tinubu, the First Lady and the Nigerian delegation were invited to a state banquet.
The visit highlights Nigeria’s return to the international stage in the wake of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, which stabilized the Naira, liberalized the investment climate and modernized the tax system, resulting in renewed global recognition and praise.
Historically, President Tinubu’s state visit came 37 years after a similar visit by military president Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, four years after he took power.
The basic difference between the two visits lies in the meaning. While the visit of General Babangida, a military leader, came during the dark days of military dictatorship in Nigeria, the recent one took place under a thriving 27-year-old democracy. This goes a long way to explaining why the enthusiasm that greeted last week’s visit and the ceremonies that accompanied it was deeper.
The late Queen Elizabeth II hosted General Babangida, while King Charles III – who is no stranger to Nigeria, having visited on several occasions – hosted President Tinubu. Both President Tinubu and King Charles III spoke and interacted as friends and brothers. One could feel the warmth and affection shown between the two leaders, with King Charles holding President Tinubu’s hand “with love”, as a viral post on social media put it.
President Tinubu has emerged as the first Nigerian leader to be hosted at Windsor Castle. We should not lose the importance of Windsor Castle, an English royal residence rich in history. According to Wikipedia, as the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, it has been a central part of the British monarchy for over 900 years, hosting crucial events and hosting monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II, who spent a significant amount of time there. William the Conqueror is said to have built the castle in the 11th century as a defensive ring of fortifications around London.
On top of all this, there are also other equally notable parts of the visit during which the real benefits of the two-day visit were realized. Nigeria and Britain have a long-standing relationship dating back to colonial times. After Nigeria’s independence, the relationship developed into business and commercial partnerships. Nigeria is currently one of the UK’s largest trading partners.
Official records show that trade between Nigeria and the UK amounted to £8.1 billion, an increase of 11.4% on the previous year. Energy products and services are largely responsible for this phenomenal growth.
Nigeria’s exports to the UK are dominated by crude oil, worth £1.0 billion, while the UK’s exports to Nigeria are led by refined oil, worth £1.6 billion. The UK also maintains a healthy £3.4 billion trade surplus with Nigeria.
During President Tinubu’s visit, the two countries signed a financing agreement worth P746 million for the renovation of two major Nigerian ports, Apapa Quays and Tincan Port Complex. The scope of that ambitious agreement is unmistakable. The multiplier effect of a modernized port, whether through loans or otherwise, on the rapid clearance of goods and on overall operational efficiency and effectiveness, can hardly be overestimated.
Additionally, Nigerian banks such as Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank are expanding their presence in the UK, with investment in fintech, manufacturing and education also increasing.
Both President Tinubu and King Charles alluded to the growing, harmonious and mutually beneficial bilateral and trade relations between the two countries in their speeches at the state banquet at Windsor Castle. “Nigeria and the United Kingdom have shared much more than just history; our two nations share a vision of progress and resilience. Today we continue this journey, committed to building a future rooted in partnership, mutual respect and common values,” President Tinubu said, expressing confidence that the friendship between the two countries will continue to improve.
King Charles said: “Your visit (Tinubu’s visit) has provided an opportunity to celebrate the fact that Nigeria is investing in Britain’s future as much as Britain is investing in Nigeria’s. Major Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as their global base; examples of top Nigerian companies are listed on the London Stock Exchange and UK Export Finance supports investment in Nigeria’s ports.
“In education, British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria and British and Nigerian technology companies are forging ever closer partnerships. I was pleased to see that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain traveled to Nigeria and spent as much in return.”
At 10 Downing Street, London, President Tinubu subsequently held bilateral and business meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the visit, during which discussions focused on trade, economics, climate change, terrorism, tension in the Middle East and broader global challenges.
“Currently, the whole world is being tested. Nigeria is not immune to what is happening around the world. I have seen your reactions on television on some developments,” President Tinubu told Prime Minister Starmer, adding: “My reaction, as you rightly said, is the economy and the well-being of the people and how we should work together to improve the living conditions of our people.”
Like King Charles, the British Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation for the UK’s enduring relationship with Nigeria, particularly the vibrant people-to-people connections that continue to strengthen both societies, noting that both countries already maintain strong collaboration in areas such as economics, defense and security.
Before leaving the UK and returning to Lagos in time to attend Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the Dodan Barracks Prayer Ground, President Tinubu found time to attend an Access Bank-sponsored art exhibition at the Tate Modern, where he praised the creativity and resilience of Nigerians as they reimagined images of the past into modern history.
Indeed, it may have been a two-day visit, but the impact and significance will continue to resonate for years to come.
*Rahman is President Tinubu’s Senior Assistant on Media and Special Duties.
