The updated state funeral arrangements for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, as led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and top federal officials.
By the National Patriots. Headlinenews.News Editorial Team | July 15, 2025 | Abuja/Katsina
In a rare display of national unity and solemn reverence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will be personally present in Katsina to receive the body of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which is scheduled to return today from London, accompanied by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top officials.
This significant state-level tribute will be followed by a formal military ceremony upon arrival at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, before the body is moved to Daura, the late President’s ancestral home, for funeral rites.
Symbolism of Presidential Participation: A Final Salute from One Leader to Another
President Tinubu, who served as a political ally and successor to Buhari, is expected to deliver a brief statement at the airport tarmac where a military honour guard will be mounted by officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
President Tinubu has declared a 7 days mourning period for all Nigerians in honour of the late President Buhari GCFR.
This is the first time in modern Nigerian political history that a sitting president will receive the remains of a former leader in person, an act symbolising profound respect, camaraderie, and national cohesion.
“This is a deeply personal moment for the President, and for millions of Nigerians who admired General Buhari’s leadership. His final return to Daura is a return to the soul of Nigeria’s democratic resilience,” said a senior presidential aide.
Funeral Timeline & State Protocols
According to official sources from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) and the Ministry of Defence, the burial programme will follow these steps:
Tuesday, July 15 (Today)
8:00am – Body leaves London Airport for Nigeria accompanied by the Vice President , Wife and Children.
12;00 pm – Arrival of Former President Buhari’s body in Katsina.
12:30 PM – Military reception & ceremonial guard of honour
1:00 PM – Motorcade departure for Daura
2:00 PM – Janazah (Islamic Funeral Prayer) at Daura Central Mosque
4:00 PM – Interment at Gidan Buhari compound, Daura
Wednesday, July 16
Third-Day Fidau Prayers to be held at the Daura Emir’s Palace, attended by:
President Tinubu
Vice President Shettima
25 Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
Traditional rulers, Islamic scholars, and regional leaders
Friday, July 18
Special Federal Executive Council Meeting postponed from Tuesday to allow ministers’ full participation in the mourning period and religious rites.
High-Level Delegation: Ministers and Top Officials in Attendance
President Tinubu has ordered 25 ministers and top aides to attend all stages of the burial proceedings, with instructions to remain in Daura until Wednesday, demonstrating national unity and institutional honour.
Attendees include:
The Minister of Defence
The Minister of Interior
The Minister of Information and National Orientation
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The NSA and top military chiefs
APC National Working Committee members
Global Significance: A Leader Honoured on Home Soil
This week’s events place Nigeria on a list of nations that have honoured their former leaders with full ceremonial rites, including:
South Africa, for Nelson Mandela (2013)
Ghana, for Jerry Rawlings (2021)
Tanzania, for John Magufuli (2021)
Kenya, for Mwai Kibaki (2022)
While Buhari preferred simplicity, the federal government has opted for a blended cultural-religious-state honour, preserving Islamic rites while showcasing Nigeria’s institutional respect for democratic service.
Quotes & Tributes
“We are not just burying a man, but saluting a lifetime of sacrifice.” — Vice President Kashim Shettima
“Let history remember this moment as the last honour to a soldier, statesman and silent reformer.” — Dr. G. Fraser, MFR, National Patriots
“Africa salutes a pillar of integrity and a bridge between generations of governance.” — AU Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat
Final Reflections
As Nigeria lowers her flags and pauses her rhythms for a full week of mourning, the journey of General Muhammadu Buhari from Daura to Dodan Barracks, to Aso Rock, and finally back to Daura, tells the story of a man who walked the corridors of power but never wavered in his frugal simplicity and nationalistic convictions.
Stay with Headlinenews.news for exclusive coverage from Daura, tributes, interviews, and the legacy special:
“Muhammadu Buhari: Last of the Disciplinarians” – Premieres July 19 2025.
اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ.
TO THOSE WHO MOCK THE DEAD
_The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not revile the dead, for they have already attained what they put forward.”_
_Fear Allah! His mercy is not in our hands to give or withhold. The one who has passed has completed their journey._ _We are the ones still walking this path of trials — with so much to correct and answer for._ _It is not our place to dig up the faults of the dead. Instead, let us focus on fixing our own souls before it is our turn to be remembered._
May Allah guide us, forgive those who have gone before us, and have mercy on us when our time comes.
