‘First in 37 years,’ Tinubu to embark on two-day state visit to the UK

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will embark on a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom (UK), according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. 

The statement, posted on the X account of the Royal Family, said the Nigerian president’s visit is at the invitation of King Charles III.

Tinubu, accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, is expected to be hosted by the King and Queen of England from Wednesday, 18th March, to Thursday, 19th March, at Windsor Castle.

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“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 18th March to Thursday, 19th March 2026. The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Windsor Castle,” the Royal Family posted on X. 

Confirming the scheduled state visit, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Tinubu on information and strategy, described the state visit as the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. 

“First state visit of a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years confirmed. President Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu to be hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla from 18th March to 19th March 2026,” Onanuga posted on his personal X account on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Tribune Online learnt that the last three Nigerian state visits to the UK were in 1973 by General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), 1981 by Shehu Shagari, and 1989 by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB).

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, visited Nigeria in 1990, 1999, 2006, and 2018.

Tinubu, who also assumed presidential office in May 2023, the same month as King Charles, met the British monarch in November 2023 ahead of the 28th United Nations climate change conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).