President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu arrived at Stansted Airport on Tuesday afternoon, commencing a landmark state visit to the United Kingdom.
Their presidential aircraft touched down shortly after 3:00 p.m. local time under clear skies, as confirmed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication. Dare shared a post on X stating:
“15:23PM: President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu touch down at Stansted Airport, United Kingdom as Historic Visit begins.”
Footage shows the aircraft taxiing to a stop before the presidential couple disembarks.
The visit, extended by invitation from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, marks the first Nigerian state visit to the UK since 1989 and the first time a Nigerian leader will be hosted at Windsor Castle. Previous visits were made in 1973 and 1981 under the late Queen Elizabeth II.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Tinubus will be guests of the King and Queen at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19. The President is scheduled to attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, meet with Nigerian and British business leaders, and engage the diaspora community.
The royal engagement will also include meetings with organisations promoting interfaith dialogue nationally and internationally.
President Tinubu will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries. The visit will culminate in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural partnerships.
A highlight of the trip will be the signing of a £746 million financing deal between UK Export Finance and the Nigerian Ports Authority and Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President’s delegation includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney General Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Ministers Dele Alake, Idris Mohammed, Wale Edun, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Hannatu Musawa, Bosun Tijani, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency Mohammed Mohammed.
