…Declares national mourning, public holiday
…Abdulsalami recounts Buhari’s last days in London hospital
…Shettima leads FG delegation, visits Aisha Buhari in London
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to receive the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State today, as the Federal Government unveils the official programme for his state funeral.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed in a statement on Monday that Buhari’s body would arrive in Nigeria by midday and be accorded full military honours at Katsina Airport before being transported to his hometown, Daura, for Islamic funeral prayers and burial.
“The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Katsina State Government and the Buhari family, has prepared a solemn and dignified programme to honour one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders,” Idris said.
In tribute to the late president, President Tinubu has declared a seven-day period of national mourning and ordered that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country.
Today, Tuesday, July 15, has also been declared a public holiday to enable Nigerians to reflect and pay their respects.
“President Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria with steadfast dedication and a clear sense of purpose. Declaring this holiday is one way to acknowledge his enduring legacy,” said Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed to Friday, July 18, to allow cabinet members and presidential aides to attend the funeral proceedings.
An inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is coordinating the burial arrangements. Members of the committee include key ministers, security chiefs and senior presidential aides.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is heading the government delegation to London, visited the late president’s widow, Aisha Buhari, and other family members on Monday. Photographs shared on social media showed Shettima comforting a visibly emotional family.
“We are here to stand beside you in this moment of grief and to ensure that Baba’s body is returned to Nigeria with the dignity and honour he deserves,” Shettima was quoted as saying by a senior aide at the meeting.
Shettima is expected to accompany the remains on the return flight, alongside Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and other members of the official delegation.
In a moving tribute, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), shared personal reflections on Buhari’s final days. Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Abdulsalami disclosed that both he and Buhari were recently hospitalised at the same facility in London.
“Sadly, we were in the same hospital, and though I had already been discharged, I was shocked by the news of his death,” Abdulsalami said. “I immediately visited the family to offer condolences and assist in making arrangements for his return.”
Describing Buhari as a man of “rare honesty and unshakable integrity,” Abdulsalami reflected on their decades-long relationship dating back to their service in the Nigerian military.
“You could trust Buhari with anything. He would never betray your trust. His passing marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political journey. I hope this moment inspires a positive change,” he added.
He also commended President Tinubu for his prompt response in dispatching high-level government officials to London.
In Daura, preparations are in full swing to receive the body of the late president. Streets are lined with mourners, and security has been reinforced across key locations. Condolence registers have been opened in all federal ministries and agencies, as well as Nigerian missions abroad.
President Tinubu continues to receive condolence messages from global leaders, including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and several ECOWAS Heads of State, all paying tribute to Buhari’s leadership in Nigeria and across West Africa.
Buhari, who led Nigeria as military head of state from 1983 to 1985 and later as democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, died on Sunday in London at the age of 82, following a prolonged illness.
“The memory of President Muhammadu Buhari will remain etched in the hearts of millions who admired his simplicity, discipline and patriotism,” the presidency stated.
