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.
The presidential jet touched down shortly after 3:00 p.m. local time, as shown in footage shared on X by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
“Timeline: 15:23PM. President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu touch down at Stansted airport, United Kingdom as Historic Visit begins,” Dare posted.
The visit, extended by invitation from Their Majesties 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 took place in 1973 and 1981 under the late Queen Elizabeth II.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President and First Lady will be guests of the King and Queen at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.
During the visit, President Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, meet Nigerian and British business leaders, and engage with the diaspora community. He will also hold discussions with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.
A bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street will take place, aimed at strengthening collaboration between both countries. The talks are expected to result in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
President Tinubu will witness the signing of a £746 million financing deal between UK Export Finance and the Nigerian Ports Authority and Federal Ministry of Finance to support upgrades at Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and Tin Can Island Port Complex.
Members of the President’s delegation include Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.); National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.