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President Bola Tinubu will leave Abuja on Tuesday for an official state visit to the UK following an invitation from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Plans for the visit were announced on Monday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the Nigerian leader will travel with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, and several members of his cabinet, with the aim of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the UK, particularly in areas such as immigration, trade, investment and cultural cooperation.
Onanuga revealed that the British monarch will receive the President and First Lady at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19, where they will host a special exhibition showcasing items from the Royal Collection with links to Nigeria.
“This state visit is the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. President Tinubu is also the first Nigerian leader to receive a visit from a British monarch at Windsor Castle.
“Later the King and President will hold private discussions and meet with organizations involved in inter-religious dialogue, both nationally and internationally.
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“President Tinubu will witness the signing of a landmark £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to support the upgrade of two of Nigeria’s key national maritime infrastructure – the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex,” the statement read.
As part of the visit, members of the British royal family are also expected to host a state banquet in honor of the Nigerian delegation.
President Tinubu will next engage in high-level talks with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, in a meeting scheduled to take place at 10 Downing Street in London.
“President Tinubu will also hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, which will expand bilateral engagement between senior officials of the two countries.
“The meeting will culminate in the signing of various Memorandums of Understanding and agreements, including in the areas of trade, investment, defense and cultural cooperation,” the statement added.
Officials said engagement between the two governments is expected to result in the signing of several agreements and memoranda covering strategic sectors such as trade, investment, defense and cultural collaboration.
Members of the Presidential delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu.
Other parties who are expected to participate in this visit are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani; Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa; National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director General of the National Intelligence Service, Mohammed Mohammed.
