By Mustapha Salisu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Tuesday depart Abuja for a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom, where he will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
According to a State House press statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the President will be accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for the visit scheduled from March 18 to March 19 at Windsor Castle.
The statement noted that the visit marks the first State Visit by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years and the first time a Nigerian President will be hosted by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom, according to the presidency, share long-standing diplomatic ties, and the visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore further cooperation in areas such as immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.
During the visit, the British monarch will host President Tinubu and the First Lady to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection relating to Nigeria. Both leaders are also expected to hold private discussions and meet organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.
A State Banquet will be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian delegation.
President Tinubu will also hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, with the meeting expected to expand bilateral engagement between senior officials of the two countries.
The talks will culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
The President will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities—Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island Port Complex.
As part of the programme, President Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition highlighting contemporary Nigerian arts and culture 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 and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole.
Others are Minister of Culture and Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, Minister of Defence 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 at the conclusion of the State Visit.