- Burial Holds in Daura
- Jonathan, Ghana’s Akufo-Addo mourn
By Yinka Giwa
The Federal Government has declared today, Monday, July 15, a public holiday in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday in London at the age of 82.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the holiday is part of national mourning activities for the late president. Ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) across the country have also been directed to open condolence registers for members of the public to pay their respects.
Onanuga added that a special session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that was scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed to allow members of the administration to participate fully in Buhari’s funeral in Daura. A new date will be announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
President Bola Tinubu had called for the session as a mark of respect for Buhari’s “invaluable contributions to national development, unity, and democratic consolidation,” the statement read.
The late president’s remains are expected to arrive in Nigeria by noon today aboard a presidential jet. Following a brief military ceremony in Katsina, the body will be flown to Daura, his hometown, for final rites and interment according to Islamic traditions.
Condolence registers are also being opened at Nigerian embassies and missions abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Meanwhile, a Federal Government delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in London on Sunday to finalise arrangements for the repatriation of Buhari’s remains and to commiserate with his family.
According to presidential aide Stanley Nkwocha, the delegation includes Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, and Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hadejia.
Buhari’s body is expected to touch down in Katsina by midday. President Tinubu will personally receive the remains, which will then be transported by road to Daura for funeral prayers and burial at 2 p.m.
Twenty-five members of the Federal Executive Council have been mandated to attend the burial and remain in Daura for the third-day Fidau prayers on Wednesday.
Tinubu has also declared a seven-day period of national mourning beginning from Sunday, July 13, during which all national flags will fly at half-mast in honour of the deceased former president.
As part of the burial plans, President Tinubu on Monday approved the formation of an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate a befitting state funeral in conjunction with the Katsina State Government and the family of the deceased.
Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris, who made the announcement in Abuja, said the committee will ensure a dignified programme that reflects Buhari’s service to the nation. The committee is chaired by SGF Senator George Akume.
Other members include the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Defence, Interior, Works, and Health, as well as Ministers of FCT, Housing, and Culture. The National Security Adviser, IGP, DSS DG, and Chief of Defence Staff are also part of the panel.
The Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office will serve as the secretariat for the committee, which is expected to conclude its work by the end of this week.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across Nigeria and beyond. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, ex-military Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo all described Buhari as a principled and patriotic leader.
Speaking in London, Jonathan praised Buhari’s steady leadership and his role in deepening democratic institutions in Nigeria. Akufo-Addo recalled Buhari’s Pan-African commitment to regional peace and security, particularly in the fight against terrorism.
Their tributes were conveyed during a condolence visit to Vice President Shettima in London, who is overseeing the return of the body and funeral logistics on behalf of the Nigerian government.
According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, the meeting was deeply emotional, with leaders expressing solidarity with Nigeria and offering prayers for the repose of Buhari’s soul.
Vice President Shettima’s delegation includes Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila, Governor Zulum, Minister Tuggar, and Deputy Chief of Staff Hadejia. The group is expected to accompany the body back to Nigeria early Monday morning.
Meanwhile, former military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar revealed in an interview with Channels Television that he was recently discharged from the same hospital in London where Buhari died.
“Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together,” Abdulsalami said. “When I heard the news, I quickly went to condole with the family and help with arrangements for the body’s return.”
He described Buhari as a quiet, honest man with whom he shared more than six decades of military and political ties, including during the civil war. “You could trust Buhari with anything, and he wouldn’t betray you,” he said.
Reflecting on Buhari’s leadership, Abdulsalami noted the former president’s personal integrity but admitted that some members of his administration did not live up to the same standard. “He tried his best to fight corruption, but some people failed him,” he added.
He praised President Tinubu’s swift action in deploying a high-level delegation to manage the repatriation process, saying it reflects the gravity of the loss Nigeria has suffered. “With Buhari gone, politics in Nigeria will change. I hope it changes for the better,” he concluded.