President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in London on Tuesday for a state visit hosted by King Charles III, marking the first formal state visit between Nigeria and the United Kingdom in nearly four decades.
The visit highlights the longstanding relationship between the two countries, which maintain strong cooperation in trade, defence and development. London also hosts a large Nigerian diaspora community.
According to the official schedule, 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 will meet King Charles for a private audience at Windsor Castle before attending a state banquet in the evening.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to hold talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and meet members of the Nigerian community in the UK. The king had earlier hosted a reception for members of the diaspora at St James’s Palace.
Trade and Security Cooperation
The visit is expected to focus on strengthening economic and security ties between the two countries. Trade between Nigeria and the United Kingdom reached about £8.1 billion in the year ending September 2025, representing an 11.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
In recent years, both nations have deepened cooperation through agreements covering economic development, immigration and defence. In November 2024, London and Abuja signed a strategic partnership aimed at boosting collaboration in key sectors.
Part of the discussions may also involve ongoing projects backed by the UK, including the rehabilitation of the Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port in Lagos. The $700 million project is partly supported by the British export credit agency UK Export Finance.
Security cooperation is also expected to feature in the talks. Nigeria has been battling an insurgency since 2009, largely driven by the extremist group Boko Haram, which has carried out attacks in several parts of the country.
Religious and Political Context
During the visit, Oluremi Tinubu is scheduled to attend religious engagements, including preaching at services at Lambeth Palace and meeting leaders of the Church of England.
However, some traditional aspects of state visits will be missing. Notably absent from the programme is a meeting between the visiting president and the British opposition leader, Kemi Badenoch of the Conservative Party. Badenoch, who has Nigerian heritage, has previously criticised governance issues in Nigeria, including corruption and insecurity.
The visit also comes amid broader debates involving the historical relationship between Britain and Nigeria, including calls for the return of looted African artefacts held by institutions such as the British Museum.
Despite these issues, the trip is expected to focus largely on strengthening diplomatic ties and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
The visit is the first official state visit by a Nigerian president to Britain in 37 years, although Tinubu previously met King Charles in 2024. Before becoming monarch, Charles visited Nigeria four times while serving as the Prince of Wales.
