Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu arrived in Nigeria on Friday, March 20, 2026, following a two-day state visit to the United Kingdom. Okay News reports that the presidential aircraft touched down in Abuja, greeted by senior government officials, including Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, shared video footage on X (formerly Twitter) showing the moment the Tinubus were received. “A President arrives home. Excitement as President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after a resoundingly successful state visit to the UK,” Dare wrote.
The visit, held from Tuesday, March 18, to Wednesday, March 19, 2026, was the first formal state visit by a Nigerian president to the UK in 37 years. During their visit, President Tinubu and the First Lady were hosted at London Stansted Airport and then received a ceremonial welcome by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, which included an honour guard and carriage procession.
The Nigerian delegation also attended a state banquet hosted by the British monarchs. At the event, President Tinubu reflected on the protection and support he received in the UK during Nigeria’s military dictatorship and highlighted the enduring diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. King Charles III described the relationship as a “partnership of equals,” emphasizing cultural, commercial, and people-to-people connections.
Additionally, Tinubu held a bilateral meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer to strengthen ties between the two nations. Several agreements were signed, including a £746 million (about $921 million) financing arrangement with UK Export Finance for the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Federal Ministry of Finance. Another agreement focused on the return of failed Nigerian asylum seekers and visa overstayers.
