JUST IN: Tinubu departs Abuja for historic UK state visit, targets key agreements
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday departed Abuja for a historic two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, with expectations high for the signing of key agreements and memoranda aimed
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday departed Abuja for a historic two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, with expectations high for the signing of key agreements and memoranda aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
The President left the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 10 a.m., accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, following an invitation by the British monarch, King Charles III, who will host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle.
At the airport, President Tinubu was seen off by top government officials and security chiefs, including the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, among others.
The visit is expected to culminate in the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding covering critical sectors such as trade and investment, energy transition, solid minerals development, and security cooperation.
While at Windsor Castle, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host the President and the First Lady to a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items related to Nigeria.
The programme will also include private discussions between the monarch and the Nigerian leader as well as a joint engagement with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at both national and international levels.
A State Banquet will also be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of President Tinubu and his delegation.
Beyond the royal engagements, the President will hold a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street, where both countries are expected to deepen cooperation across several sectors.
The meeting will culminate in the signing of a series of Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
During the visit, President Tinubu will also witness the signing of a landmark £746 million financing agreement between the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The financing package is intended to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s key maritime infrastructure facilities — the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President will further attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition as the guest of honour, an event designed to showcase modern Nigerian arts and culture.
He will also participate in a reception bringing together Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom.
President Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria at the conclusion of the two-day visit.
