The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, has said a more balanced and informed intervention by the United Kingdom during recent global discussions on alleged religious persecution in Nigeria could have helped ease tensions and prevent speculation from shaping international perceptions.
Dare made the statement in a post on his X account on Sunday, ahead of the planned visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to London on Tuesday.
According to him, international debates surrounding claims of religious persecution highlighted the importance of a measured and well-informed voice from Britain, given its long-standing institutional knowledge of Nigeria.
He noted that the United Kingdom has historically maintained deep political, economic and institutional ties with Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy and one of its biggest economies.
However, Dare observed that London has sometimes appeared distant when contentious narratives about Nigeria emerge on the global stage, despite its deep understanding of the country’s political and social realities.
He stressed that a renewed partnership between both nations should go beyond trade statistics and routine diplomatic engagements to include frank dialogue and stronger strategic alignment.
“When President Tinubu arrives in London, he is not simply visiting a former colonial capital. He is engaging a nation whose financial markets, diaspora networks, universities and security institutions remain deeply intertwined with Nigeria’s trajectory,” Dare said.
The presidential aide also compared the significance of Britain to Nigeria’s recent diplomatic engagement with Türkiye, where the president sought to position Nigeria within emerging global trade corridors.
Dare described the United Kingdom as a gateway into major global financial, technological and diplomatic systems, noting that deeper collaboration between both countries could strengthen Nigeria’s integration into those networks.
He added that the visit offers an opportunity for both nations to redefine their relationship and build stronger cooperation for the future.
“The task before both countries now is to ensure that the bridge built by history becomes a highway to the future,” Dare stated.
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