- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for his scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom.
The President, alongside his wife, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 11am on Tuesday for the commencement of the state visit.
Tinubu and the First Lady are set to be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Windsor Castle from Wednesday, March 18, to Thursday, March 19.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the state visit is the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.
Considering the deep history of ties and special bond shared by Nigeria and the United Kingdom, the visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations and explore avenues for collaboration on issues such as immigration, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
While at Windsor Castle, Their Majesties will invite the President and the First Lady to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria.
Later, the King and the President will hold private discussions and meet with organisations engaged in interfaith dialogue, both nationally and internationally.
The Royal Family will host a State Banquet in honour of the Nigerian guests in the evening.
Tinubu will thereafter hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, which will lead to expanded bilateral engagement between senior officials of the two countries.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of various Memoranda of Understanding and agreements, including those on trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
Notable among the deals set to be witnessed by Tinubu is the signing of the landmark £746 million financing deal between the UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s major national maritime infrastructure – the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President will be the guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, showcasing modern arts and culture, and will also attend a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders and the diaspora community.
Members of the President’s entourage include: Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.
Others include Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd); National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.