By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Tuesday depart Abuja for a landmark State Visit to the United Kingdom, marking the first such trip by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.

The President, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the visit is historic not only for its timing but also because Tinubu is the first Nigerian leader to be received by a British monarch at Windsor Castle.

The visit is aimed at strengthening longstanding bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, with focus on key areas including trade, investment, immigration, security, and cultural exchange.

During the visit, the President and the First Lady will be treated to a special exhibition from the Royal Collection highlighting artefacts linked to Nigeria, after which President Tinubu will hold private talks with the British monarch.

Both leaders are also expected to engage with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue on both national and global levels.

A major highlight of the visit will be a State Banquet hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian delegation.

President Tinubu is also scheduled to hold high-level talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.

The meeting is expected to deepen bilateral cooperation and culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural collaboration.

The President will further witness the signing of a landmark £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The deal is aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of key maritime infrastructure, including the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

As part of his engagements, Tinubu will attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition celebrating contemporary arts and culture, and also meet with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.

The President’s delegation includes top government officials such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.

Others are Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the visit.