Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a series of deals on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that Nigeria and the UK signed these deals during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit.
Part of the multiple deals signed by Nigeria and the UK is the £746 million export finance deal to support the redevelopment of two major ports in Lagos.
The agreement was made known during a meeting between the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Tinubu at Downing Street in London on Thursday.
It was gathered that the UK Export Finance (UKEF) will guarantee loans for the refurbishment of the Apapa and Tin Can Island port complexes under the deal.
The financing arrangement will be coordinated by Citibank.
Also, another one of the multiple deals signed by Nigeria and the UK is that 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.
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”.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass also reports Britain has signed a new deal with the Nigerian government which will make it easier to deport thousands of failed asylum seekers.
The Home Office announced it had signed an agreement with Nigerian officials during this week’s state visit by Tinubu.
It was gathered that there are about 961 Nigerian failed asylum seekers in the UK who have exhausted their rights of appeal.
Also, there are about 1,110 foreign national offenders from Nigeria who the Home Office is waiting to deport.
The agreement will also be used to return Nigerians who overstayed their work or visit visas.
It will see Nigeria accept diplomatic notes – known as ‘UK Letters’ – instead of travel documents such as passports during the deportation process.
Currently, one of the main barriers faced by the Home Office in its bid to deport a foreign national is waiting for their home country to issue a passport or other travel papers, which are essential for a deportee to be put on a plane home.
The agreement was signed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, and Nigerian interior minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Home Office minister Alex Norris said: “Today’s agreement is another step in our mission to restore order to the border by ensuring those who have no right to be here are swiftly removed.
“Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK’s largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here. We owe everyone across the system fairness.’
Dr Tunji-Ojo said Nigeria was ‘totally committed to being a responsible country in fulfilling our core obligations’ and added: ‘Hopefully, this strengthened partnership will be a template for other bilateral understandings.’
Further elements of a wider deal will see action to tackle cybercrime and fraud.
This also comes as Nigeria announced a partnership with the United Kingdom (UK’s) Coventry University to establish a satellite campus in Alaro City, Lagos State.
