Tinubu departs for Makkah to perform Umrah, pray for Nigeria + Video
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlinePresident Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah and pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and continued progress.
The President’s Airbus A330-200 took off at 2:20pm local time on Thursday for the Islamic pilgrimage.
Tinubu was seen off at the airport by several state governors, including AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, Umar Namadi of Jigawa and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe.
Also present were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, alongside other government officials.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had announced the visit in a statement issued on Wednesday titled ‘President Tinubu departs Abuja for Makkah to pray for the nation’.
According to the statement, the visit would provide the President with an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion and prayers for Nigeria.
“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 statement said.
Umrah is an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah.
Before leaving Abuja, Tinubu commissioned equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force for its operations at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The President is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the spiritual exercise.
Thursday’s trip marks the second time Tinubu has performed Umrah since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
He previously visited Makkah in November 2023, shortly after the Saudi-African Summit in Riyadh, where he also prayed for divine guidance in leading Nigeria.
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The latest trip is among the President’s foreign engagements since assuming office. He has visited more than 30 countries in over 50 unique and recurring trips across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East.
His foreign engagements have included visits to France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, India, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Senegal, among other countries, for bilateral, multilateral and diplomatic assignments.
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