Barriers painted in Nigeria’s national colours, green, white and green, were temporarily mounted around the Holy Ka’bah in Makkah ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the sacred structure during his Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The unusual display of Nigeria’s national colours formed part of the arrangements ahead of the President’s entry into the Ka’bah, one of Islam’s most sacred sites, where he was granted the rare opportunity to offer prayers.
The development attracted attention after Inside The Haramain, a media outlet covering the Two Holy Mosques, shared photographs of the barriers on X on Monday.
“The President of Nigeria will enter the Ka’bah later tonight,” the platform stated.
Tinubu travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims in Makkah. Unlike the annual Hajj, which is performed at a specific period, Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year.
During the visit, the President was also photographed kissing the Black Stone, known in Arabic as Hajar al-Aswad, a revered feature of the Ka’bah that pilgrims approach during Tawaf, the act of walking seven times around the sacred structure.
In a statement issued on Monday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s leadership for granting him and members of his delegation access to the Ka’bah.
He specifically thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing the experience as historic and a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
The President said he was particularly moved by the sight of the Nigerian colours around the Ka’bah, noting that the gesture reminded him of his country’s identity.
“I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Ka’bah is in Green-White-Green, which reminds us of the Nigerian identity,” he said.
Tinubu also described the opportunity to pray inside the Ka’bah as a rare spiritual privilege, expressing appreciation for the hospitality extended to him by the Saudi authorities.
Beyond the religious significance of the visit, the President said he used the opportunity to seek divine wisdom and resilience to continue leading Nigeria.
“I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” he said.
He recalled undertaking a similar Umrah pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election, when he prayed for divine assistance and promised to return in gratitude.
Tinubu described his emergence as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief as a special blessing, adding that the position carried a major responsibility to serve the country.
The President was accompanied by a delegation that included Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate; and governors from Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara states.
Also on the delegation were BUA Group Chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Oando Plc Chief Executive Officer, Wale Tinubu.
Tinubu’s visit comes against the backdrop of the longstanding diplomatic and religious ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, which has remained an important destination for Nigerian Muslims undertaking Hajj and Umrah.