Nigeria, UK sign £746m deal to upgrade Lagos ports as Tinubu pushes stronger trade ties

President Bola Tinubu has called for stronger trade and economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom following the signing of a £746 million agreement to refurbish two major Lagos ports.

Tinubu made the call on Thursday during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street, where both leaders discussed expanding bilateral relations and addressing global economic challenges.

The agreement focuses on the modernisation of infrastructure at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, two of Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateways, with the aim of improving trade efficiency and boosting economic activity.

Describing the visit as significant, Tinubu said Nigeria intends to deepen its long-standing institutional and economic ties with the UK.

According to him, discussions between both countries covered key areas including trade, economic reforms, climate change, terrorism, and other global challenges.

“Nigeria is currently undergoing strong economic reforms, and we will continue discussions on how both countries can work together to improve the welfare of our people,” the president said.

Starmer described the visit as historic and emphasised the importance of Nigeria-UK relations, particularly the strong people-to-people connections between both countries.

He also noted existing cooperation in the areas of defence, security, and the economy, adding that the new agreements on exports and business collaboration demonstrate a shared commitment to deepening engagement.