By Kingston Magare 17.3.2026
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and his wife Remi Tinubu Tuesday morning left Abuja for London on a state visit to the United Kingdom.
Tinubu will spend two days in London where he would be hosted by King Charles III, at the Windsor Castle. He will also hold talks with Prime Minster Keir Starmer at No.10 Downing Street.
The trip is coming 24 hours after suicide bombers attacked Maiduguri in Borno State, where in recent times terror groups Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up their attacks killing scores of army officers and civilians.
Following the President frequent travels against the background of incessant attacks, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called on President Tinubu to scale back his trips and face the problem of insecurity that has dogged the country for many years now.
The party said it was deeply saddened by the attack, noting that the people of Maiduguri had endured years of insurgency and violence.
“The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the bomb blasts that have shaken Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving innocent Nigerians dead and many others injured,” ADC national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, statement said in statement
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians.”
The ADC noted that the President is outside the country while senior government officials responsible for national security are allegedly engaged in political activities.
“Moments like this demand the full and undivided attention of the nation’s leadership. It is therefore troubling that the President is currently outside the country at a time when such a serious attack on national security occurred,” the statement added.
“The protection of lives and property is the most basic responsibility of any government. It cannot be treated as secondary to political distractions or competing priorities,” the party said.
“The ADC therefore calls on President Tinubu to return immediately to the country and show, for once, that he cares about something else other than his politics.”
Also speaking former deputy national publicity secretary of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, said it was sad Tinubu is jetting out as the country groan under the weight of terror attacks.
“This is not just another attack; it is a national emergency. Our people are being slaughtered, our soldiers are under relentless assault, yet the President is preparing for a ceremonial outing in the UK. That is not leadership; that is abdication of responsibility.
“No responsible leader boards a plane to wine, dine, and dance when his country is burying its dead. A President with empathy goes to Maiduguri, not London. He stands with victims, not with banquet hosts.
He criticised the UK for roll out the red carpet for President Tinubu.
“The UK is not ignorant of Nigeria’s reality.
“It knows about the escalating insecurity, the mass unemployment strangling millions, and the catastrophic electricity crisis that has crippled industries. It is also aware of deepening concerns over democratic backsliding, a National Assembly and judiciary many believe have been weakened and silenced, and a political system tilting dangerously towards a one-party state.
“Yet, in the face of all this, Britain rolls out the red carpet. That is not diplomacy, it is complicity. It is a celebration in the face of tragedy.”