Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari sets to embark on a journey to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, in a statement asserted that the president’s journey is on the basis of Saudi king’s entreaty to conduct an Islamic function called Umrah.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.

“To this effect, the President, accompanied by close personal aides, will embark on the journey on Thursday, 16th May.

“He is expected to be back in the country on Tuesday, 21st May.

“Umrah is an optional but recommended pilgrimage to Makkah that can be made at any time of the year,” Shehu said.

The Nigerian president recently returned to Nigeria after about ten days of a ‘private’ visit to the UK, whose purpose of the journey was concealed.