PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Tuesday departed Abuja for a historic two-day state visit to the United Kingdom, where several key agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The President left the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 10 am, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The visit follows an invitation by the British monarch, King Charles III, who will host the Nigerian leader and his wife at Windsor Castle.
President Tinubu was seen off at the airport by senior government officials and security chiefs, including the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila ; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among others.
The visit is expected to culminate in the signing of a number of agreements and memoranda covering critical sectors, including trade and investment, energy transition, solid minerals development and security cooperation.
While at Windsor Castle, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host the President and the First Lady to a special exhibition from the Royal Collection featuring items connected to Nigeria.
The programme will also include private discussions between the monarch and President Tinubu, as well as a joint engagement with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue at both national and international levels.
A State Banquet will also be hosted by the Royal Family in honour of the Nigerian leader and his delegation.
Beyond the royal engagements, President Tinubu will hold a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, at 10 Downing Street, where both countries are expected to deepen cooperation across several sectors.
The meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of a series of memoranda of understanding and agreements covering trade, investment, defence and cultural cooperation.
During the visit, President Tinubu will also witness the signing of a landmark £746 million financing agreement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance.
The financing package will support the refurbishment of two of Nigeria’s key maritime infrastructure facilities, the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.
The President will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition as guest of honour, an event designed to showcase modern Nigerian art and culture, and participate in a reception bringing together Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom.
Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement explained that President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of the two-day visit.
~the guardian
Comments
Post a Comment