The remains of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari departed London in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15, 2025, en route to Daura, Katsina State, for burial with full state honours.
The late President’s body was flown aboard a Presidential Jet following the completion of diplomatic and logistical arrangements by a federal delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is accompanying the remains back to Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday that President Bola Tinubu will personally receive the body at the Katsina International Airport.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will receive the remains of the late President in Katsina. Upon arrival, a brief military ceremony will take place at the airport before the body is transported to Daura,” Idris said.
He added that the Islamic funeral prayer (Jana’iza) will be held immediately, followed by interment at Buhari’s private residence in Daura.
President Buhari passed away on Sunday at the age of 82 while receiving treatment in a London hospital. His death has drawn tributes from world leaders and dignitaries, reflecting his stature as a significant figure in Nigerian and global politics.
“The messages of condolence pouring in from Heads of State and Governments across the world speak to President Buhari’s legacy and influence on the global stage,” Idris noted.
As part of national mourning protocols, condolence registers have been opened across all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Nigerian embassies and missions abroad, as well as at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
To ensure a dignified and well-coordinated state burial, an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, is overseeing the arrangements in collaboration with the Katsina State Government and the Buhari family.
Furthermore, 25 members of the Federal Executive Council have been directed to attend the funeral and remain in Daura for the Third-Day prayers scheduled for Wednesday.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who led Nigeria first as a military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and later as an elected President from 2015 to 2023, will be laid to rest according to Islamic rites—bringing to a close the final chapter in the life of one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders.
