President Tinubu to Embark on Historic State Visit to the United Kingdom

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to make history later this month with a landmark State Visit to the United Kingdom, following an official invitation from King Charles III. 

The visit, which will take place on March 18–19, 2026, will see President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu hosted at Windsor Castle by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The British Royal Family confirmed the visit in a statement on its official social media account, noting:

“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.”

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga described the visit as a “landmark moment in Nigeria–UK relations,” highlighting that this will be the first Nigerian leader to receive full state honours in the UK in 37 years. 

The last of such visit was in 1989, when then-military president General Ibrahim Babangida was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Babangida’s four-day visit included a stay at a royal residence and a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace.

Historically, only two other Nigerian leaders have undertaken formal State Visits to the UK: General Yakubu Gowon in 1973 and President Shehu Shagari in 1981. While subsequent Nigerian presidents have travelled to the UK, those visits were categorized as private, working, or official engagements, lacking the ceremonial pageantry of a State Visit.

Leaders such as Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Muhammadu Buhari—who attended King Charles III’s coronation in 2023—visited under non-state designations.

President Tinubu has previously met King Charles III twice since assuming office. Their first encounter was in December 2023 on the sidelines of the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, and a second private meeting occurred in September 2024 at Buckingham Palace, focusing on climate change and global security.

Since his inauguration in May 2023, President Tinubu has conducted over ten foreign trips across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. While many were working visits or summit attendances, several were officially classified as state or official visits with full ceremonial protocols. 

These include:

Türkiye: State visit where he met President Recep Erdoğan and signed nine strategic agreements covering defence, energy, and trade.

Brazil (August 2025): State visit following an invitation from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

China (September 2024): Official state visit for the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation.

Equatorial Guinea (August 2024): Discussions on maritime security and gas cooperation.

Netherlands (April 2024): Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum.

Qatar (March 2024): At the invitation of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Benin Republic (August 2023): Special guest at the 63rd Independence Anniversary.

These engagements underscore Nigeria’s foreign policy focus on diplomatic engagement, strategic partnerships, and trade cooperation, reflecting President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s global standing.

The upcoming State Visit to the UK promises to further cement bilateral ties, revive historic diplomatic protocols, and showcase Nigeria’s growing influence on the international stage.