Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in London on Monday morning to accompany the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria for burial.
His visit followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu, who announced Buhari’s death on Sunday. Shettima was accompanied on the trip by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and his wife, Nana Shettima. Upon arrival, they were received by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed Shettima’s arrival and itinerary in a statement issued on Monday.
The delegation proceeded from the airport to the medical facility where Buhari passed away. The former president died in London at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 82.
Buhari, who hailed from Daura in Katsina State, served as Nigeria’s military head of state from 1984 to 1985 and as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
According to the presidency, Buhari’s remains will be flown to Nigeria once formalities in the United Kingdom are concluded. He will be buried later on Monday in Daura, in accordance with Islamic rites.
In honour of the late former president, President Tinubu has ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast.
The burial is expected to draw a wide range of dignitaries, including politicians across party lines, business leaders, traditional rulers, and members of the public, especially from the North, where Buhari enjoyed a loyal support base and was popularly known as “Mai Gaskiya” for his austere lifestyle and reputation for honesty.
