Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of a landmark trade mission aimed at boosting economic and cultural connections between the UK and Africa.

TheCable Lifestyle understands that Khan arrived in Nigeria at about 6:30 pm on Sunday. Following his arrival, he attended a function at a restaurant in Victoria Island.

The mayor also took to social media platforms to a picture of himself in Nigeria’s largest city while expressing his excitement about the visit.

“This is Lagos. Africa’s cultural capital – from Nollywood to Afrobeats to fashion. I’m here to deepen our cultural ties and celebrate what unites us,” he wrote.

In a on Tuesday, Khan revealed that this marks the first-ever trade mission to Africa by a sitting London mayor.

He added that his five-day tour will also include stops in Accra (Ghana), Johannesburg, and Cape Town (South Africa).

Khan highlighted the growing economic partnership between the UK and Africa, noting that bilateral trade reached £50 billion in 2024, with UK exports increasing by 7% year-on-year.

He also emphasized Nigeria’s booming tech sector, describing Lagos as the “world’s top emerging tech hub,” with a 40% growth rate since 2019.

“This week I’ll be visiting Africa to bang the drum for our great capital city – and to do everything I can to further develop the economic ties and cultural links that bind London and countries in Africa,” the post reads.

“This is the first trade mission to Africa by a London Mayor. Over four cities and five busy days, our delegation will be working to drive trade and investment across critical sectors of our economy – from finance, health and education, to tech, sustainability and our creative industries.

“Africa is the world’s most rapidly urbanising region and home to the globe’s youngest and fastest growing population, so this visit has huge potential for London’s businesses to reach and tap into new markets.

“Despite global headwinds, the bilateral trade relationship between Africa and the UK has shown consistent growth over recent years.

“With trade between the UK and Africa worth £50bn in 2024, and UK exports up seven per cent year-on-year, there is a strong economic logic to us visiting Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa.

“Today, more businesses expand into Africa from London than from any other city globally, and the UK stands as one of Africa’s most significant trading partners.

“Just last week, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) became the first Nigerian banking entity to list all of its shares directly on the London Stock Exchange, underscoring the strong economic relationship that exists between London and the African continent.”

During his stay, Khan plans to engage with Nigerian tech entrepreneurs, promoting London as the *”best place in the world to start and scale a tech business”.

“Africa’s tech ecosystem has grown 40 per cent since 2019, and Lagos is considered to be the world’s top emerging tech hub. This is why we’ll be meeting Nigerian tech entrepreneurs who are considering investing in London and selling our city to them as the best place in the world to start and scale a tech business,” it added.

See more photos from Khan’s visit to Lagos below:

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