President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate a dignified state burial for the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82 after a lengthy illness.
The decision was announced in Abuja on Monday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. He explained that the committee would collaborate closely with the Katsina State Government and Buhari’s family to deliver a burial ceremony befitting the former Head of State.
The committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Its membership includes ministers overseeing key portfolios such as finance, defence, works, interior, health, FCT, budget and planning, and culture, among others.
High-ranking security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chief of Defence Staff, will also serve on the committee. The secretariat functions will be handled by the Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office.
President Tinubu also directed all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to open condolence registers to enable the public to offer their tributes. These registers will also be available at Nigerian embassies and missions abroad, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
A federal government delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima is already in London, finalizing documentation and logistical procedures for the return of Buhari’s body. On behalf of the President, Shettima paid a condolence visit to Buhari’s widow, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, and his nephew, Mamman Daura, who is currently undergoing treatment in a London hospital.
Vice President Shettima is accompanied by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and Deputy Chief of Staff Senator Ibrahim Hadejia.
According to Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, the late president’s remains will arrive in Katsina by noon on Tuesday. A formal military ceremony will be held at the airport, after which President Tinubu will personally receive the body. The funeral rites and interment (Jana’iza) are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Buhari’s residence in Daura, in accordance with Islamic traditions.
In observance of the national mourning declared by Tinubu, flags across the country are to be flown at half-mast for seven days, and Tuesday has been declared a public holiday. Additionally, 25 members of the Federal Executive Council have been instructed to attend the funeral and remain in Daura for the third-day prayers scheduled for Wednesday.
Due to the funeral proceedings, the special session of the Federal Executive Council originally slated for Tuesday has been rescheduled to Friday, July 18.
Meanwhile, in Buhari’s hometown of Daura, residents, relatives, political allies, and sympathizers have started gathering at his residence to pay their respects. Security presence has been intensified around the area, especially near the Emirate Council.
As the late president’s body awaits release from the London hospital, plans for his final journey continue. Tributes have continued to pour in from home and abroad, lauding Buhari for his principled leadership, austere lifestyle, and long-standing role in Nigeria’s political evolution—from military ruler in the 1980s to a democratically elected president who led the nation from 2015 to 2023.
What you should know
An inter-ministerial committee led by SGF George Akume is organizing former President Muhammadu Buhari’s state burial. Buhari’s body will arrive in Katsina on Tuesday, July 15, with burial at 2:00 p.m. in Daura.
President Tinubu has declared a public holiday and seven days of national mourning, while 25 ministers will remain in Daura through Wednesday for final prayers.
