The Federal Government has released full details of the burial arrangements for Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London. The burial is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and shared by presidential aide Sunday Dare, the government announced that an inter-ministerial committee has been set up to coordinate the state burial.
The committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and includes several ministers, security chiefs, and presidential aides.
A high-powered delegation, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, is in London to finalize arrangements for the return of the former president’s remains. Buhari’s body is expected to arrive in Katsina by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 15. A short military ceremony will be held at the airport before the body is moved to Daura for Islamic funeral prayers (Jana’iza) and interment at his residence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will personally receive the late president’s body at the airport.
As part of the mourning period, President Tinubu has declared seven days of national mourning starting from Sunday, July 13. All national flags are to fly at half-mast, and Tuesday, July 15, has been declared a public holiday.
Additionally, 25 ministers have been directed to attend the full burial rites and stay in Daura for the third-day prayers.
In honor of the late president, condolence registers will be opened in all federal ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja and all Nigerian embassies abroad.
President Tinubu has also received several messages of condolence from world leaders.
Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.