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The last time a Nigerian leader paid a state visit to the UK, seventy percent of Nigeria’s current population had not yet been born. Military President Ibrahim Babangida’s visit in 1989 went as planned: a grand event hosted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
Thirty-seven years later – and sixty-six years after Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom – it was President Tinubu’s turn to be received at Windsor Castle by King Charles and Queen Camilla. He will be the first Nigerian leader hosted at Windsor Castle; all four previous leaders were received by the late Queen at Buckingham Palace.
President Tinubu arrives as the leader of Africa’s largest economy and one of the UK’s most important trading and trading partners on the continent. Under his watch, relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom have deepened significantly; in November 2024, both countries agreed to elevate ties to the level of a strategic partnership, anchored on six pillars: growth and jobs; greater mutual national security; migration, justice and home affairs; strengthen international collaboration; a modernized development partnership; and lasting interpersonal bonds.
Nigeria’s ties with the United Kingdom are older than with any other country and are shaped by our shared colonial history. Much of what defines our systems today remains a British legacy – from our official language to our legal system and civil service traditions. But while these historical connections are valuable, this visit is not about looking back. It’s about moving forward: strengthening a mutually beneficial partnership anchored in trade, investment and respect.
The world continues to change and bilateral relations must evolve with it. Our key areas of shared interest today are trade, security, anti-corruption, environmental sustainability and humanitarian assistance.
One of President Tinubu’s most consistent messages – at home and abroad – is that Nigeria is open for business. Equally important is the story of how far Nigeria has come since launching an unprecedented reform program upon taking office in May 2023: tax and business environment reforms that have stabilized the currency, significantly reduced inflation, and more. His meetings with UK business leaders will reinforce this message: the reforms are real, the trajectory is upward and the opportunities are significant.
Nigeria boasts Africa’s largest gas reserves, a resource whose strategic value has grown significantly given the current volatile geopolitical climate. The UK is itself an oil economy, making it a natural partner at the intersection of global energy security and the clean energy transition. There are abundant opportunities for both countries to align on financing, technology and policy frameworks.
President Tinubu will also meet the Nigerian diaspora in the UK, one of the largest and most vibrant in the world, represented in every corner of British society, including the highest levels of politics. Nigerians in the diaspora are renowned for their remittances, which exceed foreign direct investment every year. But they are much more than just senders of remittances. They are strategic partners in Nigeria’s development and our most effective bridges to the world.
On the security front, Nigeria and the United Kingdom share converging interests. Last July we held our third Partnership Dialogue on Security and Defense in London. This visit offers a further opportunity to translate existing frameworks into operational outcomes, as Nigeria steps up efforts to decisively address the ongoing threats of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts.
For President Tinubu, every foreign engagement has an overarching national purpose: to advance the Renewed Hope agenda, with its eight ambitious pillars, and the ultimate goal of a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. This will be his fourth visit to a major European economy, following an official visit to Germany in November 2023 and state visits to France in November 2024 and Turkey in January 2026. The President’s Foreign Engagement Tinubu is significant and it shows.
When Nigeria leads, Africa pays attention. Our continental role ranges from defending digital trade, securing the Gulf of Guinea and providing maritime transport services to the African Union’s humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. Just four months ago, Nigeria successfully led the effort that helped sustain democracy in the Republic of Benin. Nigeria’s standing is high and growing and this state visit will further cement our place in the world.
The work, of course, doesn’t end when the plane lands. Follow-through is everything. Nigeria is committed to ensuring that every commitment made and every bond forged during this visit translates into concrete results in the months and years ahead.
-Idris, fnipr, is the Minister of Information and National Orientation of Nigeria.
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