The body of former President Muhammadu Buhari departed London early this morning aboard a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft en route to Daura, Katsina State, for a state burial.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and other senior government officials were aboard the flight accompanying the late president’s remains.
Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital at around 4:30 p.m. after a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old.
The Federal Government declared today, July 15, a public holiday in his honour.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to receive Buhari’s body in Katsina around midday before the burial in Daura, the late leader’s hometown in Nigeria’s North-West region.
Known for his upright posture and widely referred to as “Baba Buhari,” the former president commanded a cult-like following in northern Nigeria. He served as military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985.
After Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, Buhari ran for president three times—in 2003, 2007, and 2011 — but lost each time despite consistently securing over 12 million votes.
In 2013, his CPC merged with Bola Tinubu’s ACN, parts of the PDP, and APGA to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Related: Buhari to Be Buried on Tuesday at Daura Residence
That coalition eventually led to a historic 2015 victory, unseating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan—the first such defeat in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were re-elected in 2019 and completed their two-term tenure before handing over to Tinubu and Shettima in May 2023.
While Buhari’s administration was marked by a strong anti-corruption stance, it was also marred by allegations of corruption involving several of his appointees.
Critics accused him of weak oversight, but his aides, including Garba Shehu, strongly defended his integrity and leadership.
The state burial in Daura marks the final journey of one of Nigeria’s most enduring political figures.
Image Credit: Channels Telivision
