• Pushes deeper economic ties, joint response to terrorism, climate threats in talks with Starmer
• Says reforms, global volatility demand pragmatic partnerships
• UK Prime Minister hails ‘historic’ visit, eyes expanded cooperation

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday sought stronger backing from the United Kingdom on trade and security, framing Nigeria’s outreach as part of a broader effort to navigate mounting global and domestic pressures.

At talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, London, Tinubu urged a deepening of bilateral engagement, with emphasis on expanding trade flows, attracting investment, and strengthening cooperation against shared security threats.

“We need to nurture the trade agreement and stimulate more economic relationships that will build our two nations,” the President said.

This comes as Tinubu pushes through far-reaching economic reforms aimed at stabilising public finances and restoring investor confidence, even as citizens grapple with the immediate impact of inflation and rising living costs.

“Nigeria is currently going through a very strong reform of the economy, and beyond the volatility that we are seeing, what we are facing is not a small challenge,” he stated.

Positioning Nigeria’s situation within a wider global context, the President noted that economic headwinds are not confined to developing economies alone.

“Currently, the entire world is challenged, and Nigeria is not immune, just as Britain is not immune. We have all been watching developments as they unfold,” he added.

He stressed that any renewed partnership must ultimately translate into improved welfare for citizens, calling for coordinated measures to mitigate economic shocks and drive inclusive growth.

“My concern is the economy and the welfare of the people, and how we should work together to improve their livelihood while mitigating economic volatility,” Tinubu said.

On security, the President highlighted the growing threat posed by terrorist networks operating across the Sahel, warning that instability in the region continues to exert pressure on Nigeria and its neighbours.

He linked the security challenges to climate change, displacement, and socio-economic stress, arguing that the evolving nature of the threats requires stronger international collaboration.

“As the largest country in West Africa and on the continent, we are challenged by terrorism coming from the Sahel, as well as the conflicts arising from climate change and other pressures,” he said.

Tinubu expressed optimism that the engagement with the United Kingdom would yield concrete outcomes in intelligence sharing, capacity building, and broader strategic cooperation.

“We will be able to discuss these further in our bilateral engagements and see what Britain can do to accelerate friendship, partnership and collaboration,” he added.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Starmer described the visit as historic, noting that it marks the first inward state visit hosted by the United Kingdom in decades.

He pointed to the enduring ties between both nations, underpinned by shared history and strong people-to-people connections.

“The long and shared history between our countries is obvious and much valued by us, as is the people-to-people contact and engagement that enriches our relationship,” Starmer said.

The British leader acknowledged existing cooperation in trade, defence, and security, but said the meeting offers an opportunity to elevate the relationship.

“We have a lot of work that we already do on the economy, on defence, on security, but today is an opportunity to take that to another level with the agreements we have been able to reach,” he stated.

Thursday’s engagement signals a renewed push by Nigeria to leverage longstanding diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom as it confronts economic strain and evolving security challenges, with both sides expressing readiness to translate dialogue into tangible outcomes.