President Bola Tinubu will be in the United Kingdom for a two-day State visit in March on the invitation of King Charles.
This was announced via the X handle of the British High Commission in Nigeria.
President Tinubu has been leading from the front as Nigeria’s foremost diplomat- clocking miles upon miles to, as his administration insists, boost Nigeria’s profile and seal deals, be they bilateral or multilateral.
He only just returned from Turkey where he and Recep Tayeed Erdoğan signed a series of agreements.
He had faced backlash for leaving the missions without substantive heads for over 2 years… Until late last year when he nominated ambassadors- all 65 of whom were confirmed by the Senate.
This state visit to the United Kingdom- on the invitation on the British Monarch, King Charles- from March the 18th, is to “further strengthen the enduring partnership between our two nations.”- as the announcement by the British High Commission, Abuja’s post on X put it.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom share a long history with Britain being the colonialists until independence in 1960.
The March state visit comes at a time of improving diplomatic and economic links between the UK and Nigeria – with trade between the two worth more than £8bn-approximately 15 trillion naira between Jan and October last year, according to UK govt figures.
This makes Nigeria, one of the UK’s most important partners in the Africa.
In 2024, the two countries signed a new trade and investment partnership designed to expand opportunities for business.
The agenda for the March visit has not been disclosed, nor details of the events planned for it unveiled.
The last Nigerian leader to undertake a state visit to the United Kingdom was military president, General Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, that was 37 years ago.
This visit is coming following last month’s posting of erstwhile career diplomat, Amin Dalhatu to London as the new Nigerian High Commissioner.
Tunji Ishola was the previous Nigeran High Commissioner to the UK, whose recall by President Tinubu 3 months into office heralded the mass recall of all the other 98 Nigerian ambassadors from the various overseas missions on the 1st of September, 2023.
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
