High Points: UK–Nigeria State Visit (Security Engagements)

• Reaffirmation of Strategic Partnership

• Strengthened bilateral ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom 
• Reinforced Nigeria’s position as a key security and geopolitical partner in Africa. 

• Renewed Security Cooperation Frameworks (MoUs)

• Agreements on intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism coordination 
• Enhanced collaboration on policing, cybersecurity, and organized crime 
• Focus on disrupting arms trafficking and transnational criminal networks. 

• Shift Toward Intelligence-Led Security

• Emphasis on data-driven and preemptive security strategies
• Recognition of intelligence gaps in addressing insurgency and banditry 

• Integration of Non-Kinetic Security Approaches

• Increased focus on governance, justice, and community resilience 
• Acknowledgement that military force alone cannot resolve insecurity 
• Promotion of peacebuilding and social cohesion as core security tools 

• Migration and Border Security Agreements

• Strengthened cooperation on migration management and border control 
• Focus on visa systems, irregular migration, and return processes. 
• Emerging concerns around dignity, fairness, and diaspora perception 

• Diaspora Engagement as a Policy Lever

• Recognition of Nigerians in the UK as key stakeholders in policy and advocacy 
• Diaspora contributions framed as bridges between diplomacy and lived realities 

• Pre-Visit and Side Engagements

• Policy dialogues and parliamentary discussions shaping the agenda 
• Civil society and advocacy groups highlighting security concerns 
• Framing the visit as a response to Nigeria’s multi-layered crisis 

• Reality Check: Ongoing Insecurity in Nigeria

• Continued attacks in the North-East, North-West, and Middle Belt 
• Highlighted gap between diplomatic commitments and on-the-ground realities 

• Implementation Gap Identified

• Concern that existing frameworks are not translating into civilian protection 
• Need for measurable outcomes: safety, accountability, and trust 

• Call for Outcome-Based Diplomacy

• Emphasis on moving from agreements to impact 
• Prioritization of people-centered security over institutional optics

PSJ UK In partnership with the Mary Dinah Foundation

Join us for a powerful afternoon of visual storytelling and policy engagement, exploring the realities of conflict and displacement across West and Central Africa.

Featuring a compelling collection of photographs from over 60 villages, curated by the Mary Dinah Foundation, the exhibition offers rare insight into the lives of those affected by insecurity, poverty, and humanitarian crisis.

Breakfast Policy Dialogue | UK Parliament | 19 March 2026

As part of the UK–Nigeria State Visit engagements, PSJ UK convened a high-level breakfast policy dialogue at the UK Parliament, bringing together policymakers, civil society leaders, and members of the Nigerian diaspora.

The session provided a timely platform to reflect on Nigeria’s current realities and to explore practical pathways towards peace, stability, and inclusive development. At a time when bilateral discussions were underway at the highest levels, the dialogue ensured that the perspectives and concerns of communities remained central to the conversation.

   

Key Themes and Discussions

1. Security and Protection of Communities
Participants highlighted the scale and urgency of insecurity affecting various regions in Nigeria, including ongoing violence, displacement, and threats to civilian life. The need for strengthened protection mechanisms and coordinated responses was emphasised.

2. Governance, Accountability and Trust
Discussions underscored the importance of transparent governance, accountability, and the rule of law as critical foundations for long-term stability and public confidence.

3. The Role of Advocacy and Diaspora Engagement
The session reinforced the importance of advocacy in ensuring that lived realities inform high-level decision-making. The Nigerian diaspora was recognised as a vital bridge in shaping policy conversations and sustaining engagement.

4. UK–Nigeria Cooperation
Participants explored opportunities for deeper collaboration between the UK and Nigeria, particularly in areas relating to security, institutional strengthening, and humanitarian support.

Outcomes and Reflections

The dialogue created space for meaningful exchange, bringing diverse perspectives into a shared conversation focused on solutions. It reinforced the need for:

• Continued engagement beyond the State Visit

• Stronger alignment between policy discussions and on-the-ground realities

• Coordinated advocacy efforts to drive accountability and action

There was a shared recognition that moments such as the State Visit must translate into tangible outcomes that improve the lives of communities affected by insecurity and instability.

Next Steps

PSJ UK will continue to build on the momentum from this dialogue by:

• Engaging stakeholders across government, parliament, and civil society

• Sharing policy insights and recommendations from the session

• Strengthening advocacy efforts to ensure sustained attention on key issues

• Expanding platforms for collaboration and dialogue

Stay Engaged

This dialogue is part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the voices of affected communities are heard and that meaningful action follows.

We invite you to:

• Explore our policy papers and resources

• Join our advocacy efforts

• Stay connected for future engagements

Together, we can continue to work towards a more peaceful, just, and prosperous Nigeria.

The President and First Lady of Nigeria, along with senior government officials, are visiting the United Kingdom this week for a series of high-level meetings. This is a unique opportunity to highlight issues that matter deeply to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.

Nigeria continues to face escalating insecurity, including violent attacks, kidnappings, and threats to civilian safety, alongside pressing governance and accountability challenges. Millions of citizens are affected, and many in the diaspora are concerned about the long-term impact on families, communities, and regional stability.

We encourage you to reach out to your Member of Parliament and ask them to raise key issues during the State Visit

As senior UK and Nigerian officials meet during the State Visit, this moment presents a critical opportunity to ensure that the voices and concerns of Nigerians—both at home and in the diaspora—are heard at the highest levels.

This page brings together a series of letters addressed to key UK decision-makers, highlighting urgent priorities around security, governance, protection of vulnerable communities, and long-term stability. These letters reflect a collective call for meaningful engagement—one that moves beyond diplomacy to deliver practical outcomes for those most affected by insecurity and injustice.

We invite you to explore, share, and take action by sending your own messages to ensure that these issues remain central to UK–Nigeria discussions.

As part of ongoing UK–Nigeria engagements during the State Visit, the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

This meeting is a key opportunity to address the urgent security challenges affecting communities across Nigeria. From widespread insecurity to the need for stronger institutional responses, millions of lives and livelihoods are impacted.

We are calling on the UK government to act as both a critical friend and a supportive partner, ensuring that discussions go beyond diplomacy and lead to practical, people-focused outcomes.

By sending a message, you are helping to ensure that these concerns are raised at the highest levels and that meaningful action is encouraged.

Ask the Home Secretary to prioritise the protection of communities and the safety of citizens in Nigeria.

Communities across Nigeria continue to face insecurity driven by organised crime, including kidnapping, trafficking, and illicit financial flows. The upcoming meeting between the UK National Crime Agency and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser is an important opportunity to strengthen practical cooperation.

Your voice can encourage action!!!

Communities across Nigeria continue to face severe insecurity, violence, and displacement. Many Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora—are concerned about the loss of life, weak accountability, and the ongoing lack of trust in justice and protection systems.

The upcoming bilateral meeting between the UK and Nigeria’s National Security Adviser and Attorney General is an important opportunity to address these urgent challenges. Your voice can encourage meaningful action that strengthens security, promotes justice, and safeguards vulnerable populations.

Many Nigerian communities, particularly Christians in regions such as the Middle Belt, continue to face violence, attacks on villages, places of worship, and clergy, resulting in deaths, kidnappings, displacement, and trauma. These communities often feel unheard, and the protection of civilians, freedom of religion or belief, and long-term security remain urgent concerns.

The Archbishop of Canterbury holds a unique position of moral and spiritual authority, able to speak into issues affecting these vulnerable communities. Your voice can encourage advocacy, protection, and practical support for those most affected.

We invite you to write to the Archbishop of Canterbury

Your message matters. Click the button below to send your letter and show solidarity with Nigerian Christian communities.

The UK–Nigeria relationship is strategic and significant, built on shared values, economic cooperation, and strong people-to-people ties. As senior Nigerian representatives meet UK officials, this is a critical moment to encourage meaningful action on issues that affect millions of lives.

We invite you to write to the UK Foreign Secretary, highlighting key priorities for discussion

“What good is diplomacy if it cannot save lives?” That question increasingly shadows Nigeria’s place in global politics.

In 2026, Nigeria presents a striking paradox. On one hand, the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is rebuilding diplomatic bridges and projecting an image of economic recovery and international relevance. The recent state visit to the United Kingdom, which is the first in nearly four decades, symbolised a renewed effort to reposition Nigeria as a credible partner on the global stage.

Yet beneath the ceremonial handshakes and diplomatic language lies a troubling domestic reality. Across several regions of the country, violence continues to claim lives, displace communities, and weaken public trust in the state’s ability to guarantee security. Nigeria today stands at a crossroads where diplomacy and bloodshed exist side by side.

The critical question, therefore, is simple: can global partnerships truly help Nigeria confront its worsening security crisis?

High-level meetings between UK and Nigerian officials are taking place this week as part of The State Visit. Use this opportunity and this platform to raise urgent concerns about general insecurity, Killings & Abductions across Nigeria, humanitarian protection, and seeming impunity making the crisis worse.

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Welcome to the central hub for all activities, content, and engagement surrounding the UK–Nigeria State Visit. This platform brings together a range of resources designed to inform, mobilise, and amplify the voices of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora during this critical moment of high-level bilateral engagement.

Here, you will find:

• Articles and briefings offering context, analysis, and policy perspectives on key issues shaping UK–Nigeria relations

• Letters and advocacy tools enabling you to directly engage UK decision-makers and ensure diaspora concerns are heard

• Live event updates and streams from key discussions taking place in Westminster and beyond

• Polls and public input opportunities to capture community perspectives and strengthen collective advocacy

As government leaders meet and decisions are shaped, this hub ensures that the realities on the ground—particularly around security, governance, and the protection of vulnerable communities—remain central to the conversation.

We encourage you to explore the content, participate where you can, and share widely. Your voice is an important part of shaping outcomes that lead to lasting peace, justice, and stability.

“The greatest things in life are at the other end of difficult conversations,” said American negotiation expert Kwame Christian. The most valuable truths are often hidden behind the most uncomfortable conversations. Avoidance may feel like safety, but in reality, it places a ceiling on growth. When individuals and nations lean into advocacy and conflict resolution, they make a conscious decision to exchange temporary comfort for lasting insight.

What is a State Visit?

In the language of diplomacy, a state visit is the highest form of international engagement between two sovereign nations. It is not merely a diplomatic meeting or a routine bilateral discussion; it is a ceremonial and strategic event that signals respect, partnership, and long-term cooperation.