President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been seen kissing the sacred Black Stone, known as Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, while performing Umrah in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Photos from the visit show the President, dressed in white, leaning into the silver frame that holds the stone as Saudi security officers stand by. Another photo shows him with members of his delegation in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque.

About the Black Stone

The Black Stone sits at the eastern corner of the Kaaba, inside the Grand Mosque, and holds deep religious significance for Muslims around the world.

Kissing the stone is a practice associated with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and many pilgrims seek the chance to do so whenever they visit the holy site.

A spiritual journey

For Muslims, Umrah is a spiritual journey marked by prayer, worship and personal reflection.

The moment has also drawn attention to the religious side of Nigeria's leader as he performs one of Islam's important acts of worship.

Over to you

What are your thoughts on this moment from President Tinubu's visit to Makkah?

The National Assembly is considering a constitutional amendment that would create 74 new legislative seats reserved for women, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has said.

The proposal

Speaking on Monday, 2 November 2026, at a Law Week event organised by the Ekiti State branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Bamidele reportedly said the plan would add 37 seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, giving each state and the Federal Capital Territory one extra women-only seat in each chamber. He said the constitution review committee has also proposed three extra seats for women in each state house of assembly, and stressed that the new seats would be added to the existing ones rather than replacing any.

How long it would last

Bamidele, who is vice-chairman of the Senate committee reviewing the 1999 Constitution, said the arrangement would run for 16 years, or four election cycles, before a full review. He described this as a sunset clause meant to allow a more inclusive political culture to develop.

What happens next

Constitutional amendments need the approval of two-thirds of members of both chambers of the National Assembly and of at least 24 of the 36 state houses of assembly. Bamidele said the National Assembly was engaging state lawmakers to secure their support.

Background

Women hold only a small share of seats in Nigeria's National Assembly, one of the lowest rates in Africa. A similar bill on special seats for women failed in 2022, which led to protests by women's groups. Supporters say reserved seats would give women a stronger voice in law-making, while critics argue they would add to the cost of governance.

President Bola Tinubu has wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia, saying he and members of his delegation were granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Kaaba in Mecca to pray during their Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage.

What the President said

In a statement on his official social media account on Monday, 2 November 2026, Tinubu thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the invitation and for their hospitality. He said that inside the Kaaba he prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for Nigeria and all Nigerians, and described the gesture as a sign of the long-standing bonds of faith and friendship between the two countries.

In a further statement released through his adviser Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he had asked God for wisdom and resilience to keep serving the people. Referring to a verse of the Quran, he said all power belongs to God, who can give leadership to anyone and take it away, and described being chosen as president out of about 200 million people as a great favour.

Why it matters

The Kaaba, inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, is Islam's most sacred site. Entry into the structure itself is rarely allowed and is usually granted only to heads of state and other dignitaries invited by the Saudi royal family.

How people reacted

Supporters praised the President and prayed for him to lead well. Critics questioned the timing of the trip so close to the 2027 elections. Former senator Dino Melaye, an opposition figure, challenged Tinubu on X to a Quran recitation contest when he returns. Last week, Oyo governor and APM presidential candidate Seyi Makinde asked the Presidency to be more open about the purpose of the trip, while activist Omoyele Sowore claimed it was for medical treatment. The Presidency rejected that claim, saying the President travelled for Umrah, as he did twice in 2022.

What happens next

The President is expected back in Abuja in the coming days as campaigning for the January 2027 elections intensifies.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has made it clear that opposition political parties should be allowed to use government-owned facilities in the state, provided they follow the proper procedures and pay the required fees.

The directive

According to the governor, he has already given instructions that no political party should be prevented from using public facilities, including the stadium, simply because it belongs to the opposition.

A message of political tolerance

Otti's position sends an important message about tolerance and fairness. Government facilities are maintained with public resources, and access to them should not depend on which party someone supports.

This is one area where Nigerian politicians need to learn to separate governance from party politics. You can disagree with your opponents and campaign against them, and still respect their right to operate within the law.

Governor Otti appears to be making that distinction clear in Abia State.

The big question

How many Nigerian governors would willingly allow opposition parties to use government facilities for their political activities?

Politics should never be an excuse to deny citizens their rights.