President Tinubu To Personally Receive Buhari’s Remains, Accompany Body To Final Resting Place In Daura

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will personally receive the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari upon their arrival in Katsina, marking a solemn and historic moment in Nigeria’s national life. The remains of the late former President are expected to arrive in the country from London, where he passed away after a prolonged illness. The body will be brought home by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who had earlier traveled to the United Kingdom as the Federal Government’s official representative for the repatriation.

According to a statement from the Presidency, President Tinubu will be present at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina to receive the late leader’s body with full military honors and in the presence of senior government officials, members of the Armed Forces, and traditional rulers from Katsina and across the country. This is seen as a mark of deep respect and national appreciation for Buhari’s service to Nigeria, both as a former military Head of State and as a two-term civilian President.

From Katsina, President Tinubu will accompany the funeral convoy to Buhari’s hometown of Daura, where the former President will be laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites. The burial, expected to be a private but dignified affair, will also include a brief interfaith tribute ceremony and a prayer session led by prominent Islamic scholars.

Tinubu’s decision to personally receive and escort the body has been described by presidential aides as a “gesture of loyalty, brotherhood, and national unity,” reflecting the personal and political ties between the two leaders and their shared history in Nigerian governance.

The Federal Government has already constituted an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to coordinate the state funeral activities. Although Buhari, a devout Muslim, had requested a modest burial, national protocol requires certain ceremonial observances, which will be balanced with respect to his wishes.

Meanwhile, condolence messages continue to pour in from world leaders, African heads of state, and international organizations, all paying tribute to Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria’s development, his anti-corruption stance, and his role in stabilizing the country during turbulent times.