ABUJA: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday departed Abuja for a state visit to the United Kingdom, marking the first such trip by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
The aircraft conveying the President and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 10:00 a.m., according to information obtained by journalists.
In a statement issued on Monday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President and the First Lady will be guests of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.
The visit is considered historic as President Tinubu becomes the first Nigerian leader to be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
It is also the first official state visit by a Nigerian president to the United Kingdom since Ibrahim Babangida visited during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in 1989.
According to the presidency, the visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly in areas such as immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.
During the visit, the Royal Family will host a state banquet in honour of the Nigerian delegation, alongside private discussions between King Charles III and President Tinubu.
The monarch will also invite the President and the First Lady to view a special exhibition of artefacts from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria. In addition, both leaders are expected to meet with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at national and international levels.
President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. The meeting is expected to deepen diplomatic engagement between both countries.
The talks are expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence cooperation and cultural exchange.
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A major highlight of the visit will be the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance.
The deal will support the refurbishment of two key maritime facilities the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition highlighting the country’s modern art and cultural heritage and participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
Members of the President’s delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, and Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris.
Also on the trip are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, and Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani.
Others accompanying the President include the Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria after concluding the two-day state visit.
