Nigerians from different walks of life, on Tuesday, paid final respects to former President Muhammadu Buhari in a solemn and historic funeral ceremony that drew leaders from across the political and religious spectrum, signalling the end of an era for one of the country’s most iconic statesmen.
The late President, who passed away on Sunday in a London hospital at the age of 82, was accorded state burial in his Daura country home, Katsina State amid full military honours and Islamic rites.
His body, draped in the green-white-green national flag, was carried by pallbearers of the Nigerian Armed Forces and laid to rest in the courtyard of his private residence, following Janazah prayers attended by thousands.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima led the Federal Government’s delegation at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, to receive the late statesman’s remains from London.
A tight security cordon accompanied the motorcade as it made its final journey to Daura, where residents lined the roads in reverent silence.
The funeral prayers and interment were attended by numerous dignitaries led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Large crowds lined the streets of Daura and gathered at the former President’s residence to pay their last respects.
The former President’s final journey began on Tuesday afternoon, when his body arrived from London at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.
President Tinubu and other dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and business leaders, escorted the late President’s remains on the hour-long drive to Daura.
Upon arrival, a brief lying-in-state ceremony was held at President Buhari’s residence, followed by the funeral prayer (Salatul Janazah) led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, the Imam of the Central Mosque in Daura.
President Tinubu and the late President’s close family members witnessed the final interment at about 5.50 p.m
The state funeral was marked by full military honours, including a reveille and a 21-gun salute. A weeklong programme of events will continue later on Tuesday with a condolence visit to President Buhari’s family by the Presidential Committee.
The burial rites began earlier in the day with Janazah prayers held at a makeshift prayer ground beside the Emir’s palace, attended by Islamic clerics, political leaders, former governors, royal fathers, military top brass, and diplomats.
A 21-gun salute thundered across the Daura skyline as soldiers stood in solemn formation—an emotional moment that gripped the nation.
Former heads of state, including Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) , former President Goodluck Jonathan, and former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, sent in tributes, describing Buhari as “a patriot who loved Nigeria in his own way.”
Across the country, Nigeria’s flags flew at half-mast as government offices, military formations, and embassies observed a public holiday in Buhari ‘s honour with a national day of mourning.
In Abuja, the National Mosque held special prayers, while the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) offered condolences, calling for unity and reflection in honour of the late leader.
The late Buhari first came to power as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985, before returning as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023 —making him one of the few in Africa to hold both offices.
Though his legacy remains divisive—praised for his anti-corruption stance and criticized for rising insecurity and economic woes—Buhari was a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s post-independence history.
In his address, President Tinubu described Buhari as “a man of iron will and national discipline whose contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution will remain indelible.”
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) called him “a son of the North who lived and died in service to the nation.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Parry (PDP) issued separate condolence messages, hailing his leadership.
In Daura, a palpable air of mourning lingered as traders shut their stalls, the Emir’s Palace flew the royal flag at half-mast, and Quranic recitations echoed through the night. Local youths also held a candlelight procession in honour of their native son.
The Presidency has announced a week-long national mourning, with condolence registers opened at Aso Rock Villa, state government houses, and Nigerian embassies abroad.
A national memorial service is being planned in Abuja, where Buhari’s political journey began and ended.
