Tinubu, Wife Jet To U.K. On State Visit

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, and his wife, Oluremi, departs Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, for a two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom (UK) at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the first such by a Nigerian leader in decades, also making Tinubu the first Nigerian President to be received by the British monarch at Windsor Castle.
According to the Presidency, the visit is intended to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and its colonial master since independence on October 1, 1960, and is expected to open new avenues for cooperation in key areas, including immigration, trade, investment and cultural exchange.
According to the schedule of the visit, the British monarch and his partner will host the Tinubus at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, March 18, to a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items related to Nigeria.
Thereafter, Tinubu will join a carriage procession to Windsor Castle, where the royal couple will receive him in a formal reception, a 21-gun salute and a state luncheon at St George’s Hall.
While in London, Tinubu is expected to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Westminster before meeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street for bilateral talks and a working lunch.
A State Banquet will be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the President and his delegation.
Tinubu’s meeting with Starmer is expected to culminate in the signing of a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements on trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
The President will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition as a guest of honour, and participate in a reception, featuring Nigerian and British business leaders, as well as Nigerians in the UK.
On the President’s delegation are Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; notable misister, such as Lateef Fagbemi (Justice); Dele Alake (Solid Minerals Development; Mohammed Idris (Information and National Orientation); Bianca Ojukwu (State for Foreign Affairs); Wale Edun (Finance); Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment); Hannatu Musawa (Culture and Creative Economy); Bosun Tijani (Communications and Digital Economy); and Christopher Musa (Defence).
Also on the entourage are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed.