The remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, have departed London early Tuesday morning aboard a Nigerian Air Force jet en route to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State, for final rites and burial.
The solemn airlift, which took place before 8:00 a.m. (BST), was accompanied by top Nigerian officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior dignitaries, symbolizing the nation’s official farewell to one of its most influential leaders.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to receive the late president’s body in Katsina by noon, ahead of the Jana’iza (Islamic funeral prayer) and interment later today in Daura, in accordance with Islamic rites.
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a national public holiday to honour Buhari’s legacy, as Nigeria holds a state burial in his rustic, agrarian hometown, now transformed into a national focus of mourning and reflection.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, at around 4:30 p.m., in a London hospital, aged 82, following a prolonged but undisclosed illness.
Born and raised in Daura, Buhari’s influence on Nigerian politics spanned over four decades. He first took the reins of power as a military Head of State from 1984 to 1985, where his austere discipline, uprightness, and anti-corruption stance earned him a loyal following across Nigeria—especially in the North, where he was affectionately known as “Baba Buhari.”
After Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Buhari became a persistent contender for the presidency, running unsuccessfully in 2003, 2007, and 2011. Despite never clinching victory in those early bids, he consistently polled over 12 million votes, showcasing a strong grassroots base.
His fortunes changed in 2013, when his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) merged with Bola Tinubu’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and other opposition blocs to form the now-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The alliance proved historic.
In 2015, Buhari and his running mate Yemi Osinbajo defeated then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, marking the first time in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic that an opposition party unseated a sitting president through the ballot. The pair were re-elected in 2019 and governed until 2023, handing over to fellow party men Tinubu and Shettima.
Buhari’s administration, though hailed for its fight against corruption and investments in infrastructure, was also marred by economic challenges, rising insecurity, and allegations of nepotism and poor oversight.
While many of his loyalists, including former spokesperson Garba Shehu, defended his legacy, critics accused the late president of allowing corruption to flourish under his watch despite his personal reputation for integrity.
Nevertheless, Buhari remained a symbol of discipline and conservative values in Nigerian politics, commanding cult-like loyalty in Northern Nigeria and remaining one of the most consequential figures in the nation’s post-civil war political evolution.
The former president will be laid to rest at his private residence in Daura following the 2:00 p.m. funeral prayer, in accordance with Islamic customs.
Security presence has been visibly increased in the area, as dignitaries and mourners continue to arrive for the solemn occasion. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has directed 25 ministers to attend both the burial and third-day prayers scheduled for Wednesday, July 16.
Flags remain at half-mast nationwide, as Nigeria observes a seven-day mourning period declared by President Tinubu, during which condolence registers have been opened across all MDAs, foreign missions, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
As Nigeria bids farewell to Muhammadu Buhari—military general, former president, and political titan—the nation reflects on a life shaped by duty, discipline, and deep conviction.
