President Bola Tinubu arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday night to perform Umrah, the voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to the Holy City of Makkah, with his spokesman framing the trip as an occasion for prayers on behalf of Nigeria’s peace and progress.
Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah following his departure from Abuja earlier that afternoon. He was received at the airport by Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yakubu Gambo, and Saudi Arabia’s head of Royal Protocol, Ahmad bin Thafir.
Presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Wednesday, 28 October, that the visit was an opportunity for spiritual reflection. “The event is an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion, and prayers for the nation’s peace, unity, stability, and continued progress,” Onanuga said. The president is expected to carry out all religious rites associated with Umrah before returning to Nigeria next week.
What the pilgrimage involves
Umrah differs from Hajj, the obligatory annual pilgrimage that draws millions of Muslims to Makkah each year. Umrah can be performed at any time and is regarded as a recommended rather than compulsory act of worship under Islamic teaching. It is a personal act of devotion, not a state function.
The trip comes as Tinubu’s administration continues to face scrutiny over its economic policies at home. His absence from Abuja is expected to be brief.