Friday March 13, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
Authorities in the United Kingdom have announced heightened security arrangements in the town of Windsor ahead of the official visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is expected to attend a royal reception hosted by King Charles III.
The visit is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, March 18, with Tinubu arriving alongside Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for an official reception at Windsor Castle.
In a statement published Wednesday, Thames Valley Police said it is coordinating security arrangements with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, the Royal Household and other partners to ensure the safety of residents and visitors during the high-profile event.
As part of the preparations, authorities announced that existing airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle—already maintained year-round—will be extended on March 18 to run from 7 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.
Chief Superintendent Adrian Hall of the Joint Operations Unit explained that the restrictions form part of a wider security plan designed for the presidential visit.
“The air restrictions are just one part of our robust security operation for the state visit of Nigerian President Tinubu next week, with many measures you will see and others you will not,” Hall said.
He added that police in the region have extensive experience managing security for royal events in Windsor and that significant planning has gone into the operation.
Authorities warned that any violation of the airspace restrictions would constitute a criminal offence under the Air Navigation Order and could result in arrest.
In addition to the flight restrictions, police said numerous officers with specialist capabilities will be deployed throughout Windsor. These include search teams, mounted police units, road policing officers and armed response teams.
Neighbourhood officers and resources under the Project Servator initiative—an operational strategy designed to deter and detect suspicious activity in public spaces—will also be visible around the town.
Security officials also confirmed the deployment of Windsor’s extensive closed-circuit television network and hostile vehicle mitigation barriers, alongside other undisclosed protective measures.
“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 said.
Residents and visitors have been encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities.
“The public plays a critical role to support us, so we encourage them to report anything that does not seem quite right,” Hall added, advising people to call 101 or approach police officers directly. In emergencies, members of the public were urged to dial 999.
Road closures and parking restrictions will begin on Tuesday, March 17, and authorities warned that traffic disruptions could occur in and around Windsor during the visit.
Police said they are working alongside the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services to enforce the flight restrictions.
Individuals who require permission to operate drones in the restricted airspace have been advised to apply through the designated police request channel.
The visit is expected to attract significant public and diplomatic attention, prompting the extensive security arrangements across the historic royal town.
