President Bola Tinubu paid a state visit to the UK on March 18 and 19, 2026, the first state visit by a Nigerian president to the United Kingdom since 1989, a gap of 37 years. King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcomed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu at Windsor Castle, with the Prince and Princess of Wales also present for the ceremonial welcome.
Tinubu described the visit as "very thrilling and significant," saying discussions covered trade, the economy, climate change, terrorism and global challenges.
Tinubu got his carriage ride and state banquet
King Charles said “Naija no dey carry last”
Nigeria got £746m for two ports
UK-Nigeria trade at record £8.1 billion
Britain got a deportation deal. 2,000+ Nigerians now easier to remove
£420m colonial debt owed to Nigeria, not addressed
Looted artefacts at British Museum, not addressed
Kemi sat in the corner and posted nothing
The visit looked great. Whether Nigeria truly won, that's the real conversation.
Tinubu and his wife were received by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, with Prince William and Princess Kate also present for the ceremonial welcome.
In a nod to Nigeria-UK ties, Kate wore a grey coat dress designed by young British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker, whose show at London Fashion Week King Charles himself attended.
King Charles showed Tinubu items from the Royal Collection including a Yoruba beaded throne presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1965, and photographs of a Yoruba woman named Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who became a protégé of Queen Victoria after being captured as a slave.
At the state banquet, King Charles praised the contributions of Nigerians living in the UK, saying "so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life."
He ended his speech with: "Naija no dey carry last."
Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under the new agreement. Nigeria agreed to recognise UK letters as alternative ID documents, removing a major administrative hurdle that previously delayed deportations
There are about 961 Nigerian asylum seekers in the UK who have used up all their appeal rights, plus 1,110 Nigerian nationals who are offenders the Home Office is waiting to send back.
A new "fusion cell" model will bring together public sector bodies, banks, tech firms and telecoms companies to rapidly share intelligence on criminal tactics, targeting romance fraud, investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes. Chatham House
Annual returns of Nigerians from the UK have nearly doubled to about 1,150. Overall deportations from the UK have reached nearly 60,000 since 2024.
Nigeria is now actively helping Britain police Nigerians abroad.
It is customary for heads of state visiting the UK to meet the leader of the opposition. Badenoch attended the state banquet but was not formally penned down to meet the Nigerian president.
Tinubu met everyone. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, PM Starmer, England rugby captain Maro Itoje, Olympic athlete Christine Ohuruogu, poet Sir Ben Okri, and pop star Tiwa Savage. The one person he didn't meet was Kemi Badenoch. Channels Television
Before becoming Tory leader, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity. She accused Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother's shoes. She has hinted at walking miles to fetch water in Nigeria despite being raised in a wealthy family.
Her comments drew a rebuke from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who accused her of "constantly denigrating" her homeland. A spokesperson for Badenoch confirmed she is not interested in projecting a more positive image of Nigeria.
Well it's important we don't take these photo-ops seriously. Even trying to glorify that state visit is committing a crime. Nigeria doesn't deserve the dignity that was accorded it. Our presidents should be home fixing this cesspool of a place.
ifiokambrose
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Tinubu and his wife were received by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, with Prince William and Princess Kate also present for the ceremonial welcome.
In a nod to Nigeria-UK ties, Kate wore a grey coat dress designed by young British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker, whose show at London Fashion Week King Charles himself attended.
The optics were immaculate.
Source
I love the fact that you added sources to your claims. My oga sir!
I do my best, but thanks my guy
Tolu Coker sabi this design thing sha.
King Charles showed Tinubu items from the Royal Collection including a Yoruba beaded throne presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1965, and photographs of a Yoruba woman named Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who became a protégé of Queen Victoria after being captured as a slave.
Image Source
37 years to get a state visit and they open with a slavery reminder. Make of that what you will.
omooor, that slavery talk sha lmao
At the state banquet, King Charles praised the contributions of Nigerians living in the UK, saying "so many people of Nigerian heritage, having chosen Britain as their home, are now at the heart of British life."
He ended his speech with: "Naija no dey carry last."
The crowd went wild.
Source: Channels Television
The deals:
Key outcomes include a £746 million financing deal to upgrade Nigeria's major ports and new agreements on trade, investment, defence, and culture.
UK-Nigeria trade reached £8.1 billion in the year to September 2025 an 11.4% year-on-year increase.
The balance of trade still favours the UK. But let's keep moving.
Source: Channels Television
Now the part Abuja isn't shouting about:
Tinubu signed a deportation deal with Starmer.
Visa overstayers, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will be removed from British soil far more easily under the new agreement. Nigeria agreed to recognise UK letters as alternative ID documents, removing a major administrative hurdle that previously delayed deportations
Source: UK Government
How many people are we talking about?
There are about 961 Nigerian asylum seekers in the UK who have used up all their appeal rights, plus 1,110 Nigerian nationals who are offenders the Home Office is waiting to send back.
Both groups can now be removed much faster.
Sources: ABC7 News, Daily Post Nigeria
There's more to the deal.
A new "fusion cell" model will bring together public sector bodies, banks, tech firms and telecoms companies to rapidly share intelligence on criminal tactics, targeting romance fraud, investment scams and cryptocurrency schemes. Chatham House
Annual returns of Nigerians from the UK have nearly doubled to about 1,150. Overall deportations from the UK have reached nearly 60,000 since 2024.
Nigeria is now actively helping Britain police Nigerians abroad.
Sources:
House of Commons Library, This Day Live
The Kemi Badenoch situation.
It is customary for heads of state visiting the UK to meet the leader of the opposition. Badenoch attended the state banquet but was not formally penned down to meet the Nigerian president.
Tinubu met everyone. King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, PM Starmer, England rugby captain Maro Itoje, Olympic athlete Christine Ohuruogu, poet Sir Ben Okri, and pop star Tiwa Savage. The one person he didn't meet was Kemi Badenoch. Channels Television
Sources: Al Jazeera, The Cable
Na wa oh
Why? Because Kemi has made her feelings clear.
Before becoming Tory leader, Badenoch described Nigeria as a socialist nation brimming with thieving politicians and insecurity. She accused Nigerian police of robbing her and stealing her brother's shoes. She has hinted at walking miles to fetch water in Nigeria despite being raised in a wealthy family.
Her comments drew a rebuke from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who accused her of "constantly denigrating" her homeland. A spokesperson for Badenoch confirmed she is not interested in projecting a more positive image of Nigeria.
Sources: The Guardian Nigeria, Al Jazeera, christiantoday.
She posted proudly with Trump at his UK state visit. Shared a photo. Big smile.
For Tinubu, silence. No photo. No statement. No handshake.
A woman of Nigerian heritage leads Britain's main opposition party. Nigeria has its biggest diplomatic moment in 37 years.
And she sat in the corner.
That's a whole movie.
Source: Africa Is A Country
Well it's important we don't take these photo-ops seriously. Even trying to glorify that state visit is committing a crime. Nigeria doesn't deserve the dignity that was accorded it. Our presidents should be home fixing this cesspool of a place.
Those Royals know they don’t deserve it.
It’s a strategy. To rub their egos and get them to sign deals. Omor I don tire for this country oh