The remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari departed London on Tuesday morning aboard a Nigerian Air Force craft, en route to Daura, Katsina State, for a state burial. Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading a top-level federal delegation to handle final documentation and logistics related to the repatriation. The late president passed away on Sunday in a London hospital, and preparations have been underway for his return and burial.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will personally receive Buhari’s body in Katsina. Upon arrival, a brief military ceremony will take place at the airport before transporting the remains to Daura for Jana’iza (funeral prayers) and interment at Buhari’s residence. The body is expected to arrive in Nigeria by noon on Tuesday.
As part of the national mourning process, Tinubu has ordered condolence registers to be opened across all federal ministries, departments, agencies, and Nigerian embassies worldwide. An additional register will be placed at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja. Idris noted that numerous condolence messages have been received from world leaders, highlighting Buhari’s global impact.
To ensure a dignified burial, Tinubu established an Inter-Ministerial Committee chaired by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. The committee is working with the Katsina State Government and Buhari’s family. Twenty-five members of the Federal Executive Council have also been instructed to attend the burial rites in Daura and remain for the Third-Day prayers on Wednesday.
