She will be the guest neither of President Goodluck Jonathan nor that of his wife, 'Mama Peace' Patience Jonathan.
Rather she is heading to Lagos, where she will, for three days, be the VIP guest of Pastor TB Joshua's Synagogue of All Nations, to receive prayers for herself and her small country.
At the departure ceremony in Lilongwe today, she said she wanted to use the time to reflect on 2013 and and what lies ahead in 2014. Mrs. Banda is due to face a general election in May 2014.
She told reporters at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe that she has been coming to Nigeria for prayers in the last five years, and this visit is normal.
"Some of you may be aware that I go for prayers in Nigeria. This year I also decided to take a three-day holiday for prayers," she said. She calls TB Joshua her spiritual father.
She was seen off at the airport by VP Khumbo Kachali. And she is expected back in Malawi on new years' eve.
Her visit to Nigeria, her seventh in the 20 months she has been in office, was the issue of discussion on social media in her country, since the announcement Thursday that she would leave today for Nigeria on a private visit.
"Her Excellency, the State President, Dr Joyce Banda leaves the country tomorrow, 27th December, 2013, for Nigeria, on a three-day private visit," read the press release that was signed by the Presidential Press Secretary Steven Nhlane.
President Banda's ascendancy to power is said to be connected to the prophecy of the TB Joshua who was said to have predicted the death of former Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika.
President Banda had visited Nigeria more than once before she ascended the presidency.
At some point she was captured on Emmanuel Television at TB Joshua's synagogue. Emmanuel TV is owned by the flamboyant preacher.
TB Joshua's Synagogue has been a favourite destination of some African leaders, including the late Professor Atta Mills of Ghana.
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