Nigeria and the United Kingdom have sealed a £746 million export finance deal to support the redevelopment of two major ports in Lagos.

The agreement was announced during a meeting between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Bola Tinubu at Downing Street in London on Thursday, according to a BBC report.

Under the deal, UK Export Finance (UKEF) will guarantee loans for the refurbishment of the Apapa and Tin Can Island port complexes.

The financing arrangement will, reportedly, be coordinated by Citibank.

As part of the agreement, British Steel will supply 120,000 tonnes of steel for the port projects under a contract valued at £70 million.

The deal is expected to generate £236 million in supplier contracts for British companies, as at least 20 percent of the project components must be sourced from the UK.

The UK government said the steel contract is the largest export, backed by UKEF for British Steel.

Peter Kyle, the UK trade secretary, said the deal would “reinforce British Steel’s world-class expertise while supporting jobs and growth in Scunthorpe”.

The agreement, struck during Tinubu’s state visit to the UK, was described by Starmer as the first by a West African leader in 37 years.

Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said the visit marked a “historic” moment in bilateral relations.

Before the meeting, Tinubu had said discussions with the UK government would focus on trade, economic cooperation, and shared challenges — including security and climate change.

Commenting on the deal, the ministry of marine and blue economy said the redevelopment of the two ports would strengthen the country’s position in regional trade.

Adegboyega Oyetola, minister of marine and blue economy, said the project would “strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub in west and central Africa”.

Tinubu is in the UK for a two-day state visit, which commenced on Wednesday.

The visit also includes plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen trade and investment ties between both countries.

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) signed an MoU with the UK’s Asset Green Limited to develop an integrated dairy production platform in the West African nation.

1. President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday stated that the country’s collaboration with the United Kingdom in addressing insecurity remained crucial, adding that he planned to discuss Nigeria’s counter-terrorism initiatives and challenges to regional stability during his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday (today).

The President made the disclosure on Wednesday night at a state banquet hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, marking the first time a Nigerian leader has addressed a gathering at the historic British royal residence.

2. Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, has said ending the Boko Haram insurgency requires involvement of Borno and Yobe people. The CDS said this in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, when he alongside the Chief of Army Staff, General Waidi Shaibu, relocated to Maiduguri, on the directives of President Bola Tinubu, to take direct charge of the situation in the state.

3. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has directed all political appointees in the state to hand over their duties with immediate effect, barely 24 hours after his inauguration for a second term. The directive is contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG.

4. Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, will preach at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, on Thursday. The engagement is part of the historic visit by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III. Officials described the visit as a major diplomatic milestone aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

5. The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day for the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr in Nigeria. The declaration follows the non-sighting of the crescent moon marking the end of Ramadan across the country.

6. President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, marking the start of his state visit to the United Kingdom. This is the first visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. The president, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, was honoured with a 42-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

7. Nigeria recorded crude oil imports worth $3.74bn linked to operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in 2025, highlighting a major shift in the country’s oil trade structure despite its status as a crude producer. This was disclosed in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Balance of Payments report, which showed that “Crude oil imports of $3.74bn by Dangote Refinery” contributed to movements in the country’s current account position

8. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has asserted that the sweeping infrastructure projects currently being executed in Abuja’s satellite towns will make it nearly impossible for any opposition to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the territory in 2027. Speaking during a post-project inspection tour of several road corridors in Karu, the Apo-Karshi axis, Bearing and Kubwa, Wike noted that the “Renewed Hope” administration has succeeded in “giving Nigeria back the lost hope.”

9. Kano State Government has announced that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as it unveiled strict guidelines to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations. The government said the decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed credible intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.

10. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps said its operatives have uncovered a warehouse used in storing stolen crude oil in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. The Corps said the crude is believed to have been stolen from vandalised pipelines and stored in GP tanks, preparatory for the next illegal step.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, is scheduled to preach at Lambeth Palace in London on Thursday, as part of activities lined up for President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

Lambeth Palace serves as the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and is a central site for the Church of England.

According to details of the official itinerary published by AFP, the First Lady will also meet with representatives of the Church of England during the visit.

The visit marks Nigeria’s first state visit to the United Kingdom in nearly four decades and is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations between both countries.

President Tinubu and Mrs Tinubu arrived in London on Tuesday, landing at Stansted Airport ahead of a series of formal meetings.

The visit includes talks with King Charles III and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as well as civic engagements with the large Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Mrs Tinubu, a devout Christian and ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has in recent years been active in faith‑based engagements and women’s empowerment programmes in Nigeria.