Nigeria's Tinubu speaks on terrorism threat as he meets UK prime minister

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu talked of how his country faces a persistent terrorism "challenge" as he met Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday as part of his state visit to the UK.

Starmer welcomed Tinubu to Downing Street for talks on the second and last day of the first state visit to Britain by a Nigerian leader in 37 years.

"What we are facing is not a small challenge. Currently the entire world is challenged," Tinubu said at the top of their meeting.

"Nigeria is not immune, Britain is not immune," Tinubu added, noting that Nigeria was "challenged by terrorism" and the "conflict from climate change."

State banquet

Nigeria has grappled with a terrorism threat since 2009.

Britain and Nigeria, a former British colony, remain partners in trade, aid and defence.

"Our ambition is to go even further than we have already gone with our two countries," Starmer said.

Tinubu and his wife were treated to a state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, west of London, on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, they had a carriage ride and inspected a ceremonial guard of honour. The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989 during the rule of Ibrahim Babangida.