President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will undertake a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom on March 18–19, 2026, following an invitation from King Charles III, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday.
The President will be accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and will be hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, west of London.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit in an official statement posted on its X account:
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 18th March to Thursday, 19th March 2026.
“The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Windsor Castle.”
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga also confirmed the development, describing it as a landmark moment in Nigeria–UK relations:
“First state visit of a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years confirmed. President Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu to be hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla from 18th March to 19th March 2026.”
This will be the first formal state visit to the UK by a Nigerian leader since 1989, when then-military president General Ibrahim Babangida was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Previous state visits include those by General Yakubu Gowon in 1973 and President Shehu Shagari in 1981.
King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) previously visited Nigeria in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018.
President Tinubu has met King Charles twice since assuming office in May 2023:
– December 2023 (on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai)
– September 2024 (private audience at Buckingham Palace, focusing on climate change and global security)
The upcoming visit follows Tinubu’s recent state and official engagements, including Türkiye (January 2026), Brazil (August 2025), China (September 2024), Equatorial Guinea (August 2024), the Netherlands (April 2024), Qatar (March 2024), and Benin Republic (August 2023).
Further details of the programme including bilateral meetings, ceremonial engagements, and key discussions will be released in due course by Buckingham Palace.
The visit comes amid strengthened Nigeria–UK strategic partnership, formalized in November 2024, covering economic cooperation, immigration, and security matters. It underscores deepening diplomatic ties between Abuja and London.
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