Madina — Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo arrived Madina, Saudi Arabia, yesterday evening for a 3-day lesser hajj during which he would also meet with Saudi Arabian authorities after the Umrah.

Details of Sambo's outing at the Kingdom were sketchy as at yesterday, but his spokesman Umar Sani said the vice president was billed to start his Umrah today.

During the meeting, Sambo is expected to talk about the Kingdom's restriction on the performance of pilgrimage to once in five years.

The new rule, according to Saudi authorities, took effect from last year and will start applying to Nigerians from this year.

Sambo, who arrived Madina at about 3:30, was received by the head of Royal Protocol Aminu Al-Sanusi, the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdullahi Garba Aminchi along with top Saudi officials.

He later proceeded to Al-Hiram Intercontinental Hotel where he was received by other officials. He is expected to proceed to Mecca today for Umrah.