President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle as he kicked off his official state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by a Nigerian leader in nearly four decades.
The President, accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was honoured with a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Ahead of the formal proceedings, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, welcomed the Nigerian leader and his wife before their meeting with King Charles III.
As part of the two-day engagement, the British monarch will host the President and the First Lady at the castle, where activities will include an exchange of gifts and the exhibition of Nigeria-related artefacts from the Royal Collection.
A state banquet is also scheduled to take place at St George’s Hall, during which both leaders are expected to address invited guests, including senior officials and notable personalities with connections to Nigeria.
The customary luncheon with the monarch will not hold, as Tinubu is observing the fasting period of Ramadan.
During the visit, the President and his wife are expected to lay a wreath at the resting place of Queen Elizabeth II inside St George’s Chapel.
They are also billed to meet with organisations involved in promoting interfaith harmony, amid mounting concerns over security challenges in Nigeria.
The visit comes shortly after a series of explosions in Maiduguri, where suspected terrorists targeted a major market, the entrance of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office flyover.