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President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ahead of his scheduled pilgrimage to Makkah to perform Umrah, the lesser Islamic pilgrimage.
Tinubu arrived on Thursday evening and is expected to use the spiritual exercise to pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and continued development.
The President was received at the King Abdulaziz International Airport by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yakubu Gambo, and the Saudi Head of Royal Protocol, Ahmad bin Thafir.
Tinubu had departed Abuja earlier from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a brief send-off ceremony attended by state governors and senior government officials.
Before leaving the country, the President inaugurated five newly acquired Nigerian Air Force helicopters aimed at strengthening military operations against terrorism and other security threats.
The inauguration was part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to enhance the operational capacity of the military in tackling insecurity across the country.
A statement issued by the President’s Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria next week.
