London Mayor Pays Respects in Nigeria During Historic Visit

 London Mayor Sadiq Khan embarked on his inaugural visit to Nigeria on July 15, 2025, arriving in Lagos to a warm welcome from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with the trip coinciding with the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura. 

Accompanied by a 20-member delegation, Khan met local leaders to discuss trade and cultural exchanges, announcing a £50 million investment in Nigerian startups to strengthen ties with the 200,000-strong Nigerian diaspora in London. His schedule includes a poignant farewell at Buhari’s funeral, honoring the late leader’s frequent medical visits to the UK, totaling over 200 days since 2017, during his 2015-2023 presidency.

The visit, initially planned to explore economic partnerships, took on added significance with Buhari’s death, prompting Khan to adjust his itinerary for a diplomatic gesture, including a planned meeting with President Tinubu in Abuja on security cooperation. While local officials praised the investment, some Nigerians questioned the timing, citing Buhari’s controversial legacy, notably the 2020 #EndSARS protests where 12 deaths were documented by Amnesty International. 

Khan’s office clarified the trip’s pre-scheduled nature, but the farewell underscores a deepening London-Nigeria relationship, with 15% of bilateral trade routed through the UK capital, offering a platform for future collaboration.