President to meet King Charles III as Nigeria–UK ties deepen
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will embark on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom on March 18, marking the first of such visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years, Buckingham Palace has announced.
In a statement released, the Royal Communications team confirmed that 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 Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The last Nigerian leaders to undertake state visits to the UK were General Yakubu Gowon in 1973, President Shehu Shagari in 1981, and General Ibrahim Babangida in 1989.
Although this will be President Tinubu’s first official state visit to the UK since assuming office, it will not be his first engagement with King Charles III. Both leaders came into 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 COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where discussions focused on bilateral relations and climate cooperation.
The relationship was further strengthened in September 2024 when King Charles received Tinubu at Buckingham Palace for a private meeting. According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the leaders discussed key global and regional issues, with emphasis on climate change.
King Charles, while still Prince of Wales, visited Nigeria in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018, reflecting his long-standing ties with the country.
The Royal Communications team said details of the state visit programme, including official engagements and ceremonial events, will be announced in due course.
The visit is expected to further strengthen diplomatic, economic, and climate cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom amid evolving global challenges.
