President Bola Tinubu has departed King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, bound for Abuja.
This follows the completion of a week-long lesser pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah.
President Tinubu’s plane took off at the Royal Terminal of the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, at exactly 5:13 pm Saudi time,” Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed in a statement Wednesday.
The Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yakubu Gambo, and the Consul-General, Ambassador Muazam Ibrahim Nayaya, accompanied the President to the airport.
Before departure, Tinubu held a brief meeting with the Deputy Governor at the Royal Guest Palace within the airport complex.
The visit, which began on Thursday last week, included a series of spiritual engagements that generated significant public attention back home.
The President led his delegation in performing the Umrah rites, including the circumambulation of the Holy Ka’abah at Masjid al-Haram.
The highlight of the visit came on Sunday when King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud granted Tinubu the rare privilege of entering the interior of the Holy Ka’abah, the sacred cubic structure at the centre of Islam’s holiest mosque, where he and members of his delegation performed the two raka’at prayers.
Inside the Ka’abah, Tinubu offered supplications for lasting peace, security, unity and prosperity in Nigeria, and sought divine guidance, wisdom and strength to continue serving the Nigerian people.
The visit also attracted political commentary given its timing.
Tinubu departed for Makkah days after officially flagging off his re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, with the January 16, 2027 general elections now less than 75 days away.
Speaking to journalists after completing his Umrah rites on Friday, the President had declared that only God could determine who would lead Nigeria, saying, Allah is the only one who can define a human being, what he will be, and what he will become.
On Sunday, he hosted members of his delegation to dinner and prayed for Nigeria’s diversity to be converted into prosperity.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the hospitality and special courtesies extended to his delegation, particularly the access granted to the Ka’abah.
His entourage on the return flight included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the governors of Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Borno and Yobe States, among others.
