President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have returned to Nigeria following a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
The presidential aircraft touched down on Friday, where the couple was received by senior government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Footage shared by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, captured the arrival, which he described as the conclusion of a “resoundingly successful” visit.
The trip, held from March 18 to 19, 2026, marked the first formal state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, with the previous visit taking place in 1989. President Tinubu had earlier departed Abuja for London, arriving at Stansted Airport ahead of scheduled engagements.
During the visit, the Nigerian delegation was hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, where they were accorded full ceremonial honours, including an honour guard and carriage procession. A state banquet was also held in their honour.
At the banquet, President Tinubu reflected on the support he received in the UK during Nigeria’s military era, while reaffirming the long-standing relationship between both countries. In his remarks, King Charles III described the UK–Nigeria relationship as a “partnership of equals,” highlighting strong cultural, economic, and interpersonal ties.
President Tinubu also held talks with Keir Starmer in a high-level bilateral meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the UK.
Key outcomes of the visit included the signing of several memoranda of understanding, notably a £746 million financing agreement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance. In addition, both countries signed an agreement to facilitate the return of failed Nigerian asylum seekers, visa overstayers, and convicted offenders, as part of efforts to enhance migration management and bilateral collaboration.
The visit is expected to further strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
