Nigeria’s President Tinubu Holds Key Meeting with UK Prime Minister on £746 Million Port Deal

London, UK, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, with a focus on a major port infrastructure deal.

The bilateral talks are set to result in several agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation. According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the meetings will culminate in multiple Memoranda of Understanding and strategic agreements.

A central outcome is a £746 million ($950 million) financing arrangement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance. The funding will support upgrades at two critical maritime facilities in Lagos State: the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex. Modernising these ports is expected to improve efficiency, reduce congestion, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.

The visit also highlights Nigeria’s broader strategy to modernise infrastructure and strengthen economic partnerships with global powers.

Earlier, President Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady were welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, underscoring the diplomatic significance of the trip.

President Tinubu is accompanied by a senior delegation including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney General Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Finance Minister Wale Edun, Defence Minister General Christopher Musa, and other top government officials.

The agreements reached are expected to shape future cooperation between Nigeria and the UK, particularly in infrastructure development and economic partnerships, with further implementation details to follow in the coming months.