Britain’s King Charles III will host Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a historic state visit to the United Kingdom from March 18 to March 19, Buckingham Palace has announced.
President Tinubu will travel with his wife, Oluremi Tinubu. They will be officially received by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, west of London. The visit marks an important moment in relations between the two countries.
The trip comes as Britain and Nigeria continue to strengthen their partnership. In November 2024, London and Abuja signed a strategic agreement to work more closely on economic growth, immigration, and security. Earlier, in early 2024, the two nations also signed an economic cooperation deal aimed at boosting trade and investment.
Security is expected to be a major topic during the visit. Nigeria has faced serious security challenges for years, including a jihadist insurgency in the northeast and violent criminal gangs operating in other parts of the country.
Recently, more than 160 people were killed in central Kwara State, an attack President Tinubu blamed on jihadists. Following this, Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence said both countries plan to deepen defence cooperation.
Nigeria and the United Kingdom share long historical ties. Nigeria is a former British colony and a member of the Commonwealth.
It was also the first African country visited by the British Foreign Secretary after the Labour government took office in July 2024. The UK is home to a large Nigerian diaspora, and Nigeria remains one of the biggest recipients of British development aid.
Economic ties between the two countries are growing. Trade reached £8.1 billion in the year ending September 2025, an increase of more than 11 percent compared to the previous year. British exports to Nigeria rose to £5.7 billion, showing stronger business links between the two nations.
This visit will be the first formal state visit by a Nigerian president to Britain in 37 years, highlighting its significance. President Tinubu last met King Charles in September 2024, but this will be the first time he is received with full state honours. King Charles himself has a long connection with Nigeria, having visited the country four times when he was Prince of Wales.
The visit also takes place amid renewed attention on colonial-era issues. Just days before the announcement, a Nigerian court ordered the British government to pay £420 million in compensation to families of miners killed by colonial authorities in 1949 after protests over poor working conditions and unpaid wages.
Overall, the state visit is expected to reinforce diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation between Britain and Nigeria, while also reflecting on their shared history and future partnership.
