Abuja, Nigeria –
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to return to Abuja on Sunday after concluding an official visit to China and a brief stay in the United Kingdom.
The President departed Nigeria for Beijing on August 29, making a stop in Dubai before arriving in China on September 1. His official visit began on September 2 with a formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. President Tinubu was honored with a 21-gun salute and an inspection of the guards before both leaders held talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
During the visit, Nigeria and China signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), covering areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, human resource development under the Global Development Initiative, and media exchange between the two nations.
Significant agreements were also reached in infrastructure development, including a deal for the construction of the 68-kilometer Lagos Green Rail Line, connecting Lekki Free Zone to Marina, and a $1 billion iron ore-to-steel project in Kogi State, led by Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited of Nigeria and Sinomach-He of China.
Additionally, President Tinubu held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and visited leading Chinese companies, Huawei and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC). He also participated in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where he delivered a speech emphasizing multilateralism and cooperation as keys to global peace.
In Beijing, Tinubu met with representatives of Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation (China chapter), where he discussed his administration’s ongoing reforms aimed at improving infrastructure, including roads, power, and education, drawing comparisons with China’s development achievements.
After concluding his China visit, the President traveled to the UK, where he met with King Charles III on Thursday to discuss climate change and global action.
President Tinubu’s return to Abuja marks the end of his diplomatic engagements in both China and the UK.
