President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria next week after travelling to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah and offer prayers for the country.
The President’s planned departure from Abuja on Thursday was announced in a statement issued on October 28 by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Tinubu’s visit will provide an opportunity for spiritual reflection and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and continued progress.
During his stay in Makkah, the President is expected to perform the religious rites associated with Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city.
The statement said Tinubu would seek Allah’s guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its citizens during the spiritual exercise.
Before leaving the country, the President was scheduled to commission equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force for its operations.
The commissioning was expected to take place at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the pilgrimage, according to the presidency.
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed at different times of the year, unlike Hajj, which takes place during a specific period in the Islamic calendar.
The presidential trip combines the religious exercise with an official engagement involving equipment acquired for the Nigerian Air Force, although the statement did not provide further details about the equipment or its operational capacity.
