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President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to meet King Charles III on Wednesday as part of Nigeria’s first state visit to the United Kingdom in nearly four decades.
Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in London on Tuesday through Stansted Airport to begin the official visit.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, maintains long-standing ties with Britain, its former colonial ruler, particularly in trade, aid and defence. The United Kingdom is also home to a large Nigerian diaspora.
According to the official programme, Tinubu will first meet Prince William, Prince of Wales and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, before travelling with them to Windsor.
Later in the day, King Charles will host the Nigerian president for an audience at Windsor Castle, followed by a state banquet in the evening.
Britain and Nigeria strengthened bilateral relations in November 2024 when both countries agreed on a strategic partnership aimed at boosting economic cooperation, migration management and security collaboration.
Trade between the two nations reached £8.1 billion (about $11 billion) in the year ending September 2025, representing an 11.4 percent increase from the previous year.
Discussions during the visit are expected to include trade, infrastructure projects such as British-backed renovations of major Nigerian ports, and broader economic cooperation.
The visit comes days after suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people in northeastern Nigeria. The region has faced a militant insurgency since 2009. Following the attacks, Tinubu ordered security chiefs to relocate to Maiduguri to coordinate the response.
On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and engage with members of the Nigerian community in the UK.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu is also scheduled to deliver a sermon at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and meet representatives of the Church of England.
However, the programme does not include a meeting with the British opposition, which is traditionally part of such visits. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party and of Nigerian heritage, has previously criticised Nigeria over corruption and security concerns.
The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989. Tinubu previously met King Charles in September 2024. Before becoming monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, Charles visited Nigeria four times as Prince of Wales.
