Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said his country faces serious terrorism threats as he met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a historic state visit to London.
Starmer welcomed Tinubu to Downing Street on Thursday, marking the final day of Nigeria’s first state visit to Britain in thirty-seven years.
Speaking before talks, Tinubu described global insecurity as a shared burden, saying no nation remains untouched by rising violence, instability, and climate-driven conflicts.
“Nigeria is not immune, Britain is not immune,” Tinubu said, stressing that terrorism and climate pressures continue to challenge national stability and economic resilience.
The visit followed deadly suspected suicide bombings in northeastern Nigeria that killed at least twenty-three people, underscoring the persistent threat of jihadist insurgency.
Nigeria has battled extremist violence since 2009, while recent comments by US President Donald Trump alleging genocide against Christians triggered diplomatic tensions with Abuja.
Britain and Nigeria maintain deep ties through trade, defence cooperation, and development aid, shaped by colonial history and strengthened by Britain’s large Nigerian diaspora community.
Starmer praised the countries’ shared past and signalled ambitions to expand cooperation, saying both governments seek to deepen partnership across security, migration, and economic sectors.
Economic cooperation featured prominently after British Steel secured a seventy-million-pound contract to support major port redevelopment projects across Nigeria.
The deal will supply one hundred twenty thousand tonnes of steel, boosting production at the company’s Scunthorpe facility and highlighting growing commercial links between both nations.
London and Abuja also announced a migration agreement allowing faster deportation of visa overstayers and failed asylum seekers through recognition of alternative identity documents.
Under the arrangement, Britain can use “UK Letters” instead of waiting for emergency travel documents, streamlining removals while reinforcing administrative cooperation between authorities.
Tinubu and his wife attended a state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, following ceremonial honours earlier in the day.
The visit blended diplomacy and symbolism, reflecting renewed engagement between two nations navigating security pressures while seeking opportunity through renewed partnership and shared history.
