Tinubu begins historic visit to UK

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will depart Abuja on Tuesday 17 March 2026 for a state visit to the United Kingdom as guests of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

King Charles will host President Tinubu and his wife at Windsor Castle from Wednesday 18 March to Thursday 19 March 2026.

The state visit is the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.

President Tinubu is also the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.

Nigeria and the United Kingdom share a deep history of ties and a special bond.

The purpose of this visit is to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues of collaboration on issues such as immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.

While at Windsor Castle, Their Majesties will invite the President and First Lady to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to Nigeria.

Subsequently, the King and the President will have private talks and meet with organizations engaged in interreligious dialogue, both nationally and internationally.

In the evening the royal family will host a state banquet in honor of the Nigerian guests.

President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, which will lead to greater bilateral engagement between senior officials of the two countries.

The meeting will culminate with the signing of several memorandums of understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defense and cultural cooperation.

President Tinubu will be present at the signing of the historic £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s key national maritime infrastructures: the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

The President will be the guest of honor at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which will showcase modern art and culture, and will also attend a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders and the diaspora community.

Members of the President’s entourage include: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun; and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

Others are the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defense, General Christopher Musa (rtd); National Security Advisor, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and the director general of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu will return to the country at the end of the state visit.