NIGERIA is set to bid farewell to one of its most prominent leaders, as preparations enter the final stage for the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at a hospital in London.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, formally announced the burial arrangements, stating that after extensive consultations with the late president’s family and senior government officials, it has been agreed that Buhari’s remains will arrive in Katsina by noon on Tuesday, July 15.
The burial will then proceed by 2:00 p.m. in his ancestral hometown of Daura, in line with Islamic rites.
Governor Radda conveyed condolences to the Buhari family and all Nigerians, describing the deceased leader as a symbol of discipline, patriotism, and integrity.
“President Buhari was a son of the soil, not only to Katsina but to Nigeria as a whole. His legacy is one that transcends politics.
“He was a servant-leader whose entire life was dedicated to public service,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, administrative processes are underway in the United Kingdom to finalize the documentation required for the release of Buhari’s remains.
A UK source confirmed to News Point Nigeria on Monday that hospital authorities in London are working closely with Nigerian diplomats to expedite the process.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, are in the UK as part of the official delegation tasked with repatriating the late president’s body.
They were received by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar; Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; and other high-ranking officials upon their arrival in London.
Back home in Daura, Buhari’s residence has become a focal point of national mourning.
Friends, relatives, political allies, and ordinary citizens have been gathering at his home to pay their last respects.
The atmosphere in Daura is solemn but peaceful, as heavy security presence surrounds key areas including the Emirate Council and access routes to the residence.
Despite the somber mood, daily commercial activities continue with minimal disruption.
Among early visitors to Buhari’s residence were Katsina State Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal Jobe; Deputy Chief of Staff Mukhtar Saulawa; Katsina APC Chairman, Sani Daura; Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasiru Danmusa; former Katsina SUBEB Chairman, Lawal Daura; and Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone 14, Aliyu Musa.
One of the former president’s longtime associates, Sulaiman Yarin-Katsina, described him as “a rare example of humility and principle in Nigerian politics.”
He added, “Despite his global stature, Buhari never disconnected from the realities of his people. He lived simply and stayed true to his roots.”
Born in Daura in 1942, Muhammadu Buhari first ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from January 1984 to August 1985.
Decades later, he was democratically elected president in 2015 and served two terms, leaving office on May 29, 2023.
Known for his firm stance on corruption and a modest lifestyle, Buhari’s political legacy continues to generate reflection and debate.
Condolence messages have poured in from across the nation and beyond, with current and former leaders, religious figures, and civil society organisations eulogizing Buhari as a nationalist who prioritized Nigeria’s unity and moral discipline.
As Daura prepares to lay its most famous son to rest, the town has become a symbolic ground zero of national grief, where tributes to his legacy are echoing far beyond the borders of Katsina State.
Full state honours are expected to accompany the interment, in accordance with presidential directives issued earlier by President Tinubu.