Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to arrive in London on Tuesday for a historic state visit hosted by Charles III, marking the first formal state visit between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in nearly four decades.
During the visit, President Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will be welcomed on Wednesday by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Later in the day, the Nigerian president is scheduled to meet King Charles at Windsor Castle for a private audience, followed by a state banquet in the evening.
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly in trade, security cooperation, and economic development. Trade between both nations reached £8.1 billion in the year ending September 2025, reflecting an 11.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
On Thursday, President Tinubu will hold talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and also meet members of the Nigerian diaspora community in the UK. The visit comes as both countries continue to deepen their partnership following the strategic agreement signed in November 2024 to enhance cooperation in areas such as economic development, immigration, and security.
Economic collaboration is also expected to feature prominently in discussions. A $700 million rehabilitation project for the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos has received partial loan guarantees from UK Export Finance, highlighting growing infrastructure cooperation between the two countries.
Nigeria and the UK are also seeking stronger defence collaboration, especially as Nigeria continues to battle insurgency and violent attacks in parts of the country.
Despite the strong diplomatic relationship, a few sensitive issues may surface during the visit. First Lady Oluremi Tinubu is scheduled to speak at services at Lambeth Palace and hold discussions with representatives of the Church of England.
The visit comes amid ongoing debates within the Anglican community over church leadership and governance, following the appointment of Sarah Mullally to a prominent leadership role.
Another notable absence from the official schedule is a meeting with Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK Conservative Party and a British politician of Nigerian descent who has previously criticised governance issues in Nigeria.
The trip will mark the first formal state visit by a Nigerian president to Britain in 37 years, although President Tinubu previously met King Charles in September 2024. Before ascending the throne, King Charles visited Nigeria four times during his time as Prince of Wales.
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