Nigeria’s first state visit in 37 years adapted for Ramadan

WorldPolitics
18 Mar 2026 • 5:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, have begun a two-day state visit to the UK, marking the first such visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century.
  • King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting the visit, which includes a state banquet in St George’s Hall, with the Prince and Princess of Wales also participating in the ceremonial welcome and carriage procession.
  • The visit's schedule has been specially adapted due to Ramadan, with President Tinubu observing his fast and an afternoon audience replacing the traditional welcome lunch.
  • The visit proceeds despite recent suicide bombings in north-eastern Nigeria and aims to strengthen the UK’s position as a global hub for African business, with new job creation announcements.
  • The programme also includes a meeting with organisations focused on interfaith dialogue, and the visit concludes on Thursday evening, coinciding with the start of Eid-al-Fitr.

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