Buhari departs Riyadh, arrives Makkah for Lesser Hajj

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday evening arrived Makkah, Saudi Arabia, at the end of the three-day Future Investment Initiative (FII), held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

The President was received by His Royal Highness Prince Bader bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy-Governor of Makkah Region and other government officials at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, at about 7.05p.m (locat time).

While in Makkah, President Buhari alongside some members of his entourage, will perform the Lesser Hajj and also observe the Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Before leaving Riyadh Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari had met behind closed doors with Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The President had also on Wednesday met with King Salman bin Abdulaziz where the two leaders expressed their determination for deeper partnership, especially in the areas of oil and gas for the development of both countries.

Buhari also met with U.S Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin in Riyadh on Wednesday where they had positive discussions on investments in Nigeria under the new United States International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC), which provides 60 billion dollars for investments in developing nations.

All the meetings were held on the sidelines of the the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit, which ended on Thursday in Riyadh.

Buhari will on Saturday Nov. 2, proceed to the United Kingdom on a private visit, and is expected to return to Nigeria on Nov. 17. NAN