President Bola Tinubu arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday evening ahead of his scheduled pilgrimage to Makkah to perform Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, and pray for Nigeria’s peace and stability.

The President is expected to use the sacred Islamic rite to pray for the country’s peace, unity, stability and continued development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yakubu Gambo, and the Saudi Head of Royal Protocol, Ahmad bin Thafir.

Tinubu departed Abuja from the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after a brief ceremony attended by state governors and senior government officials.

Before his departure, the President  inaugurated five newly acquired Nigerian Air Force helicopters to strengthen military operations against terrorism and other security threats.