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Authorities in the United Kingdom have announced road closures and strict airspace restrictions ahead of the state visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria, who is scheduled to arrive next week.
Tinubu is expected to begin the official visit on Wednesday, March 18, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu. The visit will commence with a reception hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle.
In a statement published on Wednesday, Thames Valley Police said it is coordinating closely with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household, and other security agencies to ensure the visit proceeds safely.
As part of the security arrangements, existing airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle will be significantly expanded on March 18, covering the period from 7:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of the Joint Operations Unit at Thames Valley Police explained that the airspace restrictions are part of a broader security operation for the high-profile visit. He warned that any violation of the restrictions would be treated as a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could lead to immediate arrest.
Hall said the police would deploy officers with specialized capabilities across Windsor, including search teams, mounted units, road policing officers, and armed personnel. These units will work alongside neighbourhood policing teams and resources from Project Servator, a national counter-terrorism initiative designed to deter and detect suspicious activity.
“We will be deploying numerous police officers to Windsor with specialist capabilities, including search teams, Mounted Section, Roads Policing and armed units, while our neighbourhood and Project Servator resources will also be on the ground engaging with the public,” Hall said.
Authorities will also utilize Windsor’s extensive closed-circuit television network, alongside hostile vehicle mitigation barriers and other security measures that will remain undisclosed for operational reasons.
“We will also be using the extensive CCTV network in Windsor, hostile vehicle mitigation barriers and many other security measures that you may not be able to see to make sure the event runs safely,” Hall added.
Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities by calling 101 or speaking directly to officers on duty. In cases of emergency, residents are advised to dial 999.
In addition, road closures and parking restrictions will begin on Tuesday, March 17, with temporary disruptions expected on roads in and around Windsor throughout the visit.
Thames Valley Police said it is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the flight restrictions. Individuals with legitimate reasons to operate drones during the restricted period have been advised to submit requests through the police’s designated airspace approval channel.
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