Henry Balogun

Lawyer. Citizen journalist. Blogger. Political and Social commentator. Observer of people, politics and power

[Sen Oluremi Tinubu, CON @SenRemiTinubu]

To God be all the glory for the gift of life and yet another birthday anniversary.

I celebrate you and i pray God gives you divine health, strength, joy and peace as you take Nigeria to her Eldorado of great wealth and opportunities.

Akanbi, omo olodo ide.

I love you and I am so proud of you.

- Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON

[APC National Convention 2026 @APCConvention]

As we prepare for the 2026 National Convention of the biggest and most organized political party in Africa, these are five important things to know about the highly anticipated event.
#APCConvention2026

[Channels Television @channelstv]

"God’s mercies are new every morning."

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu took the pulpit at Lambeth Palace during the UK State Visit to preach a message of faith and unity.

#NigeriaUK
#ChannelsTVNews

[The Economist @TheEconomist]

Aliko Dangote’s estimated $28.5bn fortune makes him the only African among the world’s 100 richest people, according to Forbes. His conglomerate has grand plans for industrialisation https://t.co/4cpUKukGOT

[Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON @aonanuga1956]

Memorable moments of President Tinubu’s State visit to the UK. Courtesy Arise TV

[Simon Glazin @theverysimong]

Last one for the state banquet last night. The table! The flowers! The food! The Princess of Wales!

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Starmer meets Nigerian president as record steel deal agreed https://t.co/jb3KhRpV2V

[Sunday Dare,CON @SundayDareSD]

PRESIDENT TINUBU’S DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE. A NOTE
“The gloves may be off in Nigeria’s political discourse, but facts must remain the referee. Tinubu’s foreign trips are not a distraction from governance; they are a core instrument of his diplomatic, economic and security strategy. In a rapidly shifting global order, a president who stays home risks leaving his country behind. By contrast, Nigeria’s current diplomatic offensive is gradually yielding a bounty, one that could define the nation’s economic and geopolitical trajectory …”

[Reuters Africa @ReutersAfrica]

Britain and Nigeria announced a 746 million pound ($990.32 million) export finance deal on Thursday to fund the redevelopment of two of Nigeria's main trading ports. https://t.co/D51HX99PwN

[Sky News @SkyNews]

Nigeria state visit: Who benefits?

President Bola Tinubu and his wife Oluremi Tinubu are in the UK for a two-day state visit.

Sky's royal correspondent @SkyRhiannon reports from Windsor.

https://t.co/lH0obfT80r

[President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre @PBATMediaCentre]

President Bola Tinubu speaks at Windsor Castle:

"As the first Nigerian leader to speak here at Windsor Castle, which has served the British Crown for nearly a millennium, is particularly historic... Our West African region faces complex terrorism challenges with roots in the Sahel. Nigeria carries an enormous responsibility to help safeguard regional stability. In confronting these threats, partnership with the United Kingdom remains essential and I look forward to my meeting with Prime Minister Kier Starmer tomorrow."

#PBATInUK

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

☀️ The sun is shining in Windsor as we give a warm welcome to President Tinubu and First Lady, Mrs. Tinubu, on their State Visit to the UK.

[Sunday Dare,CON @SundayDareSD]

UK-Nigeria - Nigeria’s Sun shines in UK Royalty ⁦@officialABAT⁩ ⁦@OfficialAPCNg⁩ ⁦@AyoOyalowo⁩

[Presidency Nigeria @NGRPresident]

Prince William and Princess Catherine welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for Nigeria’s first state visit to the United Kingdom in 37 years.

@asovilladigital | @officialABAT | @SenRemiTinubu

#StateVisit #NigeriaUK #PartnershipsThatWork #RoyalVisit

[Henry Balogun @henrybalogun]

APC UK live at Windsor castle as we await the start of todays proceedings #TinubuinUK
https://t.co/NxrxElIKeA

[Dr Jumoke Oduwole @joduwole]

A productive Day 1 in London as we kicked off the 2nd Nigeria–UK ETIP Ministerial Meeting, setting a clear stage for the next chapter of our bilateral relationship 🇳🇬🇬🇧

I was honoured to join Sir Chris Bryant MP, Florence Eshalomi MP, Baroness Chapman, and our dedicated teams from @fmitiofficial, @officialccustoms_ng and the British High Commission. This government-to-government approach ensures we move swiftly from dialogue to practical delivery.

Our work to align trade policies, paired with the energy of Nigerian businesses ready to scale into the UK market, keeps us firmly focused on one thing - ensuring ETIP reaches its full potential through deeper trade, stronger investment, and practical outcomes for both our business communities

#WeMove🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🎯 #NigeriaUK #ETIP #HMIndustryTradeInvestment

[Sunday Dare,CON @SundayDareSD]

NIGERIA WILL NOT SUCCUMB TO FEAR. WE WILL CONFRONT AND DEFEAT TERRORISM.

STATEHOUSE STATEMENT

President Tinubu commiserates with the Borno people over recent terror strikes

The recent news from Maiduguri, Borno State, is profoundly upsetting. I mourn those who lost their lives, sympathise with the injured and stand in solidarity with the people of Borno during this challenging time.

I want to make it categorically clear that these acts of terror are the final desperate and frantic attempts by criminals and terrorist elements trying to instil and spread fear, as they are under constant pressure from our brave armed forces and security agencies operating in various theatres.

We will continue to intensify our efforts against all criminal elements, wherever they may be.

I must commend the courage and fighting spirit of our patriotic troops who successfully repelled the coordinated attacks by these terrorists on military positions in the state.

The Monday attacks were desperate acts of the evil-minded terrorist groups. Our gallant military and civilian task forces will curtail and put them down.

Just last weekend, during a security meeting with leaders of security and intelligence agencies, I approved additional equipment and operational support to enhance their capabilities. This effort is already in progress.

Additionally, I have directed security chiefs to move to Maiduguri to take charge of the situation. I have also directed the emergency agencies to provide proper care for the injured.

There is no place in Nigeria where terrorists will find safety. We will locate them, confront them, and completely defeat them.

Nigeria will not succumb to fear.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
President & Commander-in-Chief.

[Henry Balogun @henrybalogun]

At the Nigerian High Commission in London with APC Lagos Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, and APC Chieftain & Secretary of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (Lagos Central) and Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen (Edo State). as we prepare to set off to receive Mr. President on his arrival in the UK for his State Visit.

#PBATStateVisit
#NigeriaRising

[Henry Balogun @henrybalogun]

Nigerians in the UK & Diaspora!

Join us LIVE on Twitter Spaces to discuss President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s upcoming UK visit 🇳🇬🇬🇧

🗓 16th March 2026
⏰ 1400hrs GMT/3PM Nigeria Time

🎙 Chairman APC UK, diaspora leaders & YOU on what this visit means for Nigerians abroad, investments & engagement

💬 Ask questions. Speak your mind. Make your voice count!

🔗 https://t.co/h0Jn4MnsV4
#TinubuUKVisit #NigeriansAbroad #DiasporaVoice #NigeriaRising

[Sunday Dare,CON @SundayDareSD]

UK-NIGERIA: A RESET, BUILDING ON THE PAST AND LEAPING INTO THE FUTURE

By Sunday Dare

Early this week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will travel to the United Kingdom for what may prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements of his Presidency. It will be the first time a Nigerian leader will be berthing on the banks of the Thames on a State Visit in nearly four decades. Only very few such State visits in the past, by an African leader, have carried more symbolic and strategic weight.

In November 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made a historic journey to Jerusalem, becoming the first Arab leader to set foot on Jewish soil since the biblical Exodus—when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. That moment was more than a diplomatic gesture; it signaled a strategic rethinking of a relationship defined for decades by history, suspicion, and conflict.

President Tinubu’s visit to London may not carry the drama of Sadat’s visit to Begin, but its implications for the future of UK–Africa relations could prove just as significant. At first glance, Nigeria–UK relations may appear familiar- two countries bound by history, language, legal traditions, and dense people-to-people ties. Yet the significance of this visit lies not in nostalgia but in strategic renewal.

The agenda is forward-looking: investment, financial cooperation, technology partnerships, security coordination, education linkages, and diaspora engagement. But beyond the formal programme, the visit carries a deeper message: Nigeria and the United Kingdom are repositioning one of Africa’s most important bilateral relationships for a new global reality.

A Relationship Built on History

Few international partnerships between Africa and Europe carry the institutional depth of Nigeria–United Kingdom relations. From colonial administration to Nigeria’s independence in 1960 and through more than six decades of diplomatic engagement, the two nations have maintained enduring links across:
•governance and legal systems
•finance and banking
•security cooperation
•education and research
•trade and migration
.Security

Today, more than ever, the human connection alone is immense. More than 300,000 Nigerians live in the United Kingdom, forming one of the largest African diaspora communities in Europe. Nigerian students also rank among the largest foreign student populations in British universities, strengthening the intellectual bridge between both societies.

The economic relationship is equally significant- Total bilateral trade in goods and services reached approximately £8 billion in the four quarters ending mid-2025, with UK exports to Nigeria valued at £5.6 billion and imports from Nigeria at £2.3 billion.

Nigeria’s exports to the UK are dominated by oil and gas products, while British exports to Nigeria include industrial machinery, refined petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and financial services. Despite these flows, the relationship still operates below its full potential.

Investment, Remittances and the Diaspora Economy

The financial ties between both countries extend far beyond trade. Nigeria remains one of the largest recipients of diaspora remittances globally, with inflows reaching about $21 billion in 2024, according to central bank estimates.

A significant share of these remittances originates from Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom, making the diaspora corridor one of the most important economic bridges between both countries. British investment has also played a long-standing role in Nigeria’s economy.

Major British-linked companies operate in Nigeria and recent data shows that the stock of UK foreign direct investment in Nigeria stood at about £385 million in 2023, highlighting the need to revitalize and scale investment flows between both economies. 1/3