President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday declared that Nigeria and the United Kingdom must strengthen trade and economic relations, as both countries sealed a £746 million agreement to refurbish two major ports in Lagos.

Tinubu made the call during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street, London, where discussions centred on expanding economic cooperation and addressing shared global challenges.

The President described his state visit—the first by a Nigerian leader to the United Kingdom in 37 years—as “very thrilling and significant,” noting that it provides a fresh platform to deepen longstanding bilateral relations.

“We cannot forget the institutional development we have enjoyed over the years,” Tinubu said ahead of the talks, emphasising the historical ties between both nations.

According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President stressed the need to build on that foundation by nurturing trade agreements and fostering stronger economic collaboration that would deliver mutual benefits.

Tinubu disclosed that the bilateral discussions would cover a broad range of issues, including trade, the economy, climate change, terrorism, and wider global developments.

Highlighting Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, the President said the country is undergoing a period of significant transformation aimed at stabilising growth and improving the welfare of citizens.

“Nigeria is currently going through strong reforms of its economy, and we will discuss that further in our bilateral discussions,” he said.

He acknowledged that both Nigeria and the global economy are facing mounting pressures, stressing that the challenges are not unique to any one country.

“Currently, the entire world is challenged. Nigeria is not immune to what is happening around the world. I have seen your reactions on television on certain developments,” Tinubu stated.

He reiterated that the ultimate goal of economic cooperation must be to improve the lives of citizens, calling for joint efforts to address economic volatility.

“My reaction, as you rightly said, is the economy and the welfare of the people, and how we should work together to improve the livelihood of our people,” he added.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Starmer described Tinubu’s visit as historic, pointing to the State Banquet hosted by King Charles III in honour of the Nigerian delegation as a symbol of the enduring ties between both nations.

He reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s appreciation of its longstanding relationship with Nigeria, particularly the strong people-to-people connections that continue to enrich both societies.

Starmer noted that the two countries already collaborate closely in key sectors such as the economy, defence, and security, adding that the new agreements on exports and business exchanges reflect a shared determination to deepen cooperation and expand engagement on global issues.

A major highlight of the visit was the signing of the £746 million agreement at Lancaster House for the modernisation of infrastructure at the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.

President Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, witnessed the signing ceremony.

The agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, while the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and UK Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Mr Blair McDougall, signed for the British government.

Edun explained that the agreement aligns with Nigeria’s priority focus on infrastructure, energy, and industrial development under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that increased emphasis on bilateral partnerships would attract the scale of investment required to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and reduce poverty.

According to him, the agreement underscores growing confidence and mutual trust between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as a shared commitment to delivering tangible economic outcomes for both countries.

Nigeria has been ranked as the fourth most terrorised country in 2025 ahead of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq.

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace on Thursday, March 19, shows that Nigeria is the Sahel country with the most terror deaths and incidents in 2025.

According to GTI, 70 per cent of terror deaths in 2025 occurred in Nigeria, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Pakistan.

Top on the ranking of the most terrorised country in the world is Pakistan, second most terrorised country is Burkina Faso, Niger Republic is the third, and Nigeria follows as the fourth.

Nigeria emerges 4th most terrorised country in the world ahead of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan

The GTI disclosed that most of the terror attacks in Nigeria are perpetrated by members of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.

“Just under 70 per cent of deaths from terrorism occurred in only five countries: Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),” the report states.

“Nigeria recorded the largest increase in 2025, with fatalities rising by 46 per cent to 750. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram were responsible for 80 per cent of all terrorism deaths in the country.

“Five countries in the Sahel recorded falls in both the number of deaths and incidents from the previous year. Nigeria is the only country in the region to experience an increase in both categories.”

The GTI stated that there were 237 more terror deaths recorded in 2025 than in the year before, which is a 13 per cent increase. In the timeframe, 243 people were injured and 171 incidents were recorded.

“Nigeria recorded the largest increase and has experienced a steady rise in terrorism‑related deaths since 2022, recording 237 more fatalities in 2025 than in 2024,” the report stated.

Nigeria emerges 4th most terrorised country in the world ahead of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan

“The increase in terrorist activity comes amidst a surge in both ideological and criminal violence in the country. ISWAP and Boko Haram were responsible for 82.8 per cent of all terrorism d£aths in the country in 2025. The rise in Islamic State activity led to US-backed strikes on the group in northwestern Nigeria in late 2025.”

The report also showed that Nigeria has appeared on the index of countries affected by terrorism every year since 2011, and civilians have become the most targeted group.

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In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc has announced a series of masterclasses and support initiatives designed to help women build practical, income generating skills, strengthen professional visibility, and accelerate career growth throughout March 2026.

The activities are being delivered under the bank’s women focused proposition, HerFidelity, and align with the “Give to Gain” theme guiding this year’s programme of engagements.

On March 18, 2026, HerFidelity hosted a “Give to Gain” masterclass focused on communication and presentation. The session offered practical guidance on audience engagement, event moderation, confidence-building, and personal branding, with a strong focus on women looking to improve their public speaking and professional presence.

A second event, the Gele Masterclass scheduled for March 30, 2026, will provide hands-on training in gele tying. HerFidelity is positioning the session as a celebration of cultural expression and a marketable skill women can turn into a source of income.

In addition to the masterclasses, the bank will provide professional headshot sessions to help participants update their personal and professional profiles.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that empowering women economically creates an impact that extends beyond the individual. It strengthens families, grows businesses, and uplifts communities. That is why we have designed an elaborate plan to upskill women throughout this month. We want women to leave these sessions with practical tools they can apply immediately, whether that is speaking confidently in public, building a stronger personal brand, or learning a skill that can generate income,” said Ugochi Osinigwe, Divisional Head, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc.

Earlier this month, the bank reaffirmed its commitment to women’s economic empowerment with the signing of strategic MoUs with partner organisations at the launch of its “Give Her Power” initiative on March 5, 2026. The collaborations, anchored on the bank’s HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme, are designed to expand access to vocational training, business support, and sustainable enterprise opportunities for women across multiple sectors.

As part of the initiative, Fidelity Bank is distributing 1,000 sewing and grinding machines to empower women-led microbusinesses across Nigeria.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.