UK State Visit Nigeria: Tinubu's Visit Strengthens UK-Nigeria Relations

UK State Visit Nigeria marks a significant moment in strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between both nations.

There are four types of visits between two Sovereign Countries – State, Official, Working, and Private. The State Visit is the highest out of the four and that was what occurred between the United Kingdom and Nigeria between March 18 and 19.

It was the first State visit in the UK in thirty-seven years since the time of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida in 1989.

It was held in Windsor Castle instead of the traditional Buckingham Palace and King Charles III called it a meeting of equals. Tinubu made history again as the first Nigerian leader to be hosted in Windsor Castle.

There was a lot of pomp and pageantry as well as grandeur. Under normal circumstances, there was supposed to be a 21-gun salute by the King’s Royal Troop Artillery but instead President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady, Remi Tinubu got a 42-gun salute instead. The President, First Lady and the rest of the Nigerian Delegation were then treated to a State Banquet later that evening. The visit highlights Nigeria’s return to the international stage on the back of the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, which have stabilised the Naira, liberalised the investment climate and modernised the tax system, resulting in renewed global recognition and commendation.

The volume of trade between both countries is about 8.1 GBP which is very huge. Both countries share a deep relationship dating back to the 19th century which made the visit historically significant. nergy products and services largely account for this phenomenal growth. Nigeria’s exports to the United Kingdom are dominated by crude oil, valued at £1.0 billion, while the UK’s exports to Nigeria are led by refined oil, worth £1.6 billion. The UK also maintains a healthy trade surplus of £3.4 billion with Nigeria.

President Tinubu signed a 746 million GBP to modernize the Apapa Quays and Tincan Island Ports. This will create massive jobs for the unemployed youths and greatly boost the economy. Some critics said it was a loan which Nigeria will have to pay back. However, King Charles called the meeting that of equals as seen earlier and so the era of grants which is paternalistic is really over as there is no more any free lunch.

The soft power of the Nigerian languages played themselves out as King Charles in his major speech spoke in Yoruba, Igbo, and, Hausa and then ended in Pidgin English with ‘Naija no dey carry last’ which he had earlier said while on a state visit to Nigeria while he was a Prince. The visit surreptitiously exported our languages and with the large number of Nigerians there – about three hundred thousand will soon attain the status of an international language. Afterall, Yoruba is one of the languages for bilingualism in the UK Police Force as the new crop of recruited police officers are expected to be bilingual. I was also glad to see Tiwa Savage there as well which shows a global recognition of our Afrobeats music.

King Charles said: “Your visit (Tinubu’s visit) has provided the opportunity to celebrate the fact that Nigeria is investing in Britain’s future as much as Britain is investing in Nigeria’s. Leading Nigerian banks have chosen the City of London as a global base; examples of the best Nigerian companies are listed on London’s Stock Exchange, and U.K. Export Finance is supporting investment in Nigeria’s ports.

“In education, British schools and universities are opening their doors in Nigeria, and British and Nigerian technology companies are forming ever closer partnerships. I was pleased to see that visitors from Nigeria spent £178 million in Britain in 2024, and 251,000 people from Britain travelled to Nigeria and spent just as much, in return.”

At No 10 Downing Street, London, President Tinubu later held bilateral and business meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the visit, during which discussions centred on trade, the economy, climate change, terrorism, the tension in the Middle East, and wider global challenges.

“Currently, the entire world is challenged. Nigeria is not immune to what is happening around the world. I have seen your reactions on television on certain developments,” President Tinubu told Prime Minister Starmer, adding, “My reaction, as you rightly said, is the economy and the welfare of the people and how we should work together to improve the livelihood of our people.”

Tinubu also went for an arts exhibition at Tate Modern sponsored by Access Bank – another testimony to the soft power of the global bank.

Overall, the visit though for two days was a gargantuan success and Nigeria’s stature in the international community has been greatly raised.

Well, done Asiwaju!

Tony Ademiluyi is a Lagos based journalist and writer.