BREAKING: Tinubu departs Nigeria for Mekkah; reason emerges
President Bola Tinubu has departed Nigeria for Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Airbus A330-200 carrying the president took off at 2:20 pm local time on Thursday.
Tinubu was seen off at the airport by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani; Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu; Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, alongside other government officials.
Tinubu is visiting Makkah to perform Umrah, an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the holy city.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he issued on Wednesday titled ‘President Tinubu departs Abuja for Makkah to pray for the nation.’
Onanuga said the visit will afford the President an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion, and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability, and continued progress.
While in Makkah, President Tinubu will perform the religious rites associated with Umrah, seeking Allah’s guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its people.
The President is expected to return next week upon completion of the spiritual exercise.
This year’s visit to Makkah marks Tinubu’s second time performing Umrah since he was sworn in as President in 2023.
Tinubu had previously visited the holy city in November 2023, shortly after the Saudi-African Summit held in Riyadh, where he also prayed for divine guidance in leading Nigeria.
The trip to Saudi Arabia is the latest in a series of foreign engagements by the President since he was sworn in on May 29, 2023.