By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Federal Government has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom is aimed at projecting Nigeria to a global audience and strengthening investor confidence in the country’s ongoing economic reforms.
Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is scheduled to depart Abuja on Tuesday (today) for a State Visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III.
The visit, which will take place at Windsor Castle from March 18 to March 19, marks the first time in 37 years that a Nigerian leader will undertake a state visit to the United Kingdom and the first time the British monarch at Windsor Castle will host a Nigerian president.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the trip presents an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase the progress made under the administration’s economic reforms and attract new investment.
Speaking at a World Press Conference in London ahead of the visit, Idris said the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration were already boosting global confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
“This visit highlights the historic and strategic relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, a partnership built on deep diplomatic, economic, cultural and democratic ties,” Idris said.
According to him, the President will use the visit to deepen collaboration between the two countries across trade and investment, security cooperation, education, climate action, and technological innovation.
He said key reforms undertaken by the government, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the harmonisation of multiple foreign exchange windows, were aimed at restoring fiscal transparency and improving investment predictability.
“These reforms are already yielding results. Nigeria has become Africa’s most attractive destination for oil and gas investment for two consecutive years, attracting more than eight billion dollars in Final Investment Decisions from major international companies,” Idris said.
The minister added that rising global oil prices were also expected to boost government revenue and strengthen the country’s fiscal position.
“Each of these investment dollars represents jobs for Nigerians, technical skills development, revitalised communities and stronger revenues for governments at all levels,” he said.
During the visit, President Tinubu is expected to hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where both leaders will discuss expanding cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
Tinubu will also witness the signing of a £746 million financing agreement between UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance to support the refurbishment of two major maritime facilities — the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
While in the UK, the President will attend a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders and members of the diaspora community.
King Charles III will also host the Nigerian leader and his wife at a state banquet in honour of the visit and invite them to view a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection related to Nigeria.
Idris said Nigeria’s broader economic reforms were already showing early signs of progress, noting improvements in investor confidence and economic indicators.
According to him, inflation has declined significantly since 2023, trade surplus is expanding, and the Central Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index has recorded sustained growth in manufacturing and services.
He added that Nigeria’s external reserves had strengthened, rising above $50 billion as of February 2026, with part of the reserves now held in gold as part of the country’s diversification strategy.
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria will soon launch a Customs Single Window digital platform designed to streamline trade documentation and improve efficiency in international commerce.
He further noted that Nigeria recently exited the Financial Action Task Force grey list after implementing reforms to combat money laundering and illicit financial flows, a development expected to improve the ease of doing business.
President Tinubu’s entourage for the visit includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake; and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole.
Others are the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the state visit.
