President Bola Tinubu was granted the rare honour of entering the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where he led a Nigerian delegation in prayer, the Presidency has said.
In a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency said King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, gave Tinubu the privilege during his ongoing Umrah. BUA Group chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, said the visit took place on Sunday.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Kaaba. He was accompanied by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate. Governors of Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara states were also in the delegation, alongside business leaders including Rabiu and Oando chief executive, Wale Tinubu.
Tinubu thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the opportunity, describing it as a deeply cherished experience. “This is history,” he said.
The President said he had prayed for wisdom and resilience to keep serving Nigerians and believed the prayer had been answered. He added that his commitment to “Project Nigeria” was now stronger than before, and that power is a trust to be used responsibly and humbly.
The Presidency said he also described the economy’s foundation as solid and urged leaders to invest in young people’s future.
Rabiu, in a Facebook post, called the moment a “once-in-a-lifetime blessing, an honour beyond measure.” He said he prayed for himself, his family and for lasting peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria.
Tinubu left Abuja for Makkah on Thursday and is expected back in Nigeria this week. Before his departure, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had asked the Presidency to release daily, date-stamped photos and videos of the trip, and questioned whether it was a stopover on the way to France. The Presidency has not responded publicly to those claims.
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