• To Be Buried on Tuesday in Daura
By Abiola Olawale
Arrangements are underway to convey home the remains of Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 in a London hospital following a prolonged illness.
The New Diplomat checks reveal that the necessary paperworks to facilitate the release of his remains from a London Clinic are currently ongoing, with Nigerian officials coordinating efforts to bring the late leader back to his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, for burial.
The documentation process is currently said to be at the final stage.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after Vice President Kashim Shettima, accompanied by President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, arrived in London on Monday to help oversee the repatriation.
They were received by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.
The delegation is expected to accompany the former president’s remains back to Nigeria, where a burial is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, at 2:00 PM in Daura, in line with Islamic rites.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State confirmed that preparations are in place for a simple burial ceremony, reflecting Buhari’s modest persona and Islamic traditions.
“The body is expected to arrive in Katsina by noon on Tuesday,” Radda stated, noting that the delay from an initially planned Monday burial was to allow more people to attend the final rites.
Recall also that Tinubu, who mourned Buhari’s passing on Sunday, has directed national flags to be flown at half-mast for seven days, from July 13 to July 20, as a mark of respect in keeping with established protocols for honouring late Heads of State.
Tinubu described Buhari as a “patriot, soldier, and statesman” whose leadership was defined by “quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakable belief in Nigeria’s potential.”
He also conveyed his condolences to Buhari’s widow, Aisha Buhari, and the family.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across Nigeria and beyond. Former President Goodluck Jonathan praised Buhari’s “selfless commitment” and patriotism, while General Ibrahim Babangida, who ousted Buhari in a 1985 coup, called him a “moral compass” and an exemplar of modesty.
The African Union Commission Chairperson and ECOWAS Commission President lauded Buhari’s contributions to regional integration and democracy in Africa.
As mourners gather at Buhari’s Daura residence, the nation prepares to bid farewell to a leader whose influence spanned decades.
His burial is expected to draw dignitaries, for a funeral prayer in Daura, honoring a figure who shaped Nigeria’s political landscape through both military and democratic rule.
