By Abasi Ita
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will embark on a two day state visit to the United Kingdom beginning March 18, marking the first such visit by a Nigerian president in 37 years.
Buckingham Palace announced the visit in a statement on Saturday, noting that the trip is being undertaken at the invitation of King Charles III. The president will be accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The development places Tinubu among a select group of Nigerian leaders who have paid state visits to the UK. Previous visits were made by former heads of state Yakubu Gowon in 1973, Shehu Shagari in 1981, and Ibrahim Babangida in 1989.
King Charles, who ascended the throne in 2023, has maintained longstanding ties with Nigeria. As Prince of Wales, he visited the country in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018.
Both leaders, who assumed office in May 2023, have met on several occasions. Tinubu met King Charles in November 2023 ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai, an engagement the Nigerian president described as significant in strengthening bilateral relations.
In September 2024, the British monarch hosted Tinubu for a private meeting at Buckingham Palace. According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, discussions at the meeting focused on global and regional issues of mutual concern, with particular attention to the pressing challenge of climate change.
The royal communications team said details of the programme for the state visit will be made public in due course.