President Bola Tinubu returned to Abuja on Wednesday night after completing the Umrah pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, bringing his five-day visit to the country to an end.
His aircraft landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 8.53 pm. The President had departed Saudi Arabia from the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
He was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and five governors: Uba Sani of Kaduna, Ahmad Sokoto of Sokoto, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Umar Namadi of Jigawa and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe.
Other officials at the airport included Education Minister Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle and Director of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Agundi.
Before leaving Saudi Arabia, Tinubu held a meeting with the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at the Royal Guest Palace. The Saudi official, alongside Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yakubu Gambo, and Consul-General Muazam Ibrahim Nayaya, accompanied him to the airport.
During the pilgrimage, the President performed the Umrah rites, including circumambulating the Holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. He and members of his delegation were also granted access to enter the Kaaba on Sunday, where they offered special prayers for Nigeria.
Tinubu said he prayed for Nigeria’s peace, security, unity and prosperity, as well as for wisdom and strength to carry out his responsibilities. He reaffirmed his commitment to national development, investment in young Nigerians and making the country’s diversity a source of unity and shared prosperity.
