Tinubu heads to UK for historic state visit, first in 37 years

By Goli Innocent

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will embark on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom on March 18, marking the first such visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years, Buckingham Palace has announced.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Royal Communications team said the visit is being hosted at the invitation of King Charles III.

The president will be accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

The visit revives a long-standing diplomatic tradition between the two countries. The last Nigerian leaders to undertake state visits to the UK were Yakubu Gowon in 1973, Shehu Shagari in 1981, and Ibrahim Babangida in 1989.

Although this will be Tinubu’s first official state visit to the UK as president, it will not be his first engagement with King Charles. Both leaders assumed office in May 2023 and have met on several occasions since then.

In November 2023, Tinubu met the British monarch on the sidelines of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, where discussions centred on strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation on climate action.

The relationship was further reinforced in September 2024, when King Charles received Tinubu at Buckingham Palace for a private meeting. According to Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesperson, both leaders discussed pressing global and regional issues, with particular focus on the challenges posed by climate change.

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, has also maintained long-standing ties with Nigeria, having visited the country in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018.

The royal communications team said details of President Tinubu’s state visit programme, including official engagements and ceremonial events, will be announced in due course.

The upcoming visit is expected to further deepen diplomatic, economic and climate cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, at a time when both countries are navigating complex global challenges.