London, UK – July 14, 2025
Vice President Kashim Shettima has touched down in London as part of a high-level delegation dispatched by President Bola Tinubu to facilitate the return of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
Purpose and Context
- Presidential Directive:
On Sunday evening, President Tinubu ordered Shettima to travel immediately to the United Kingdom, alongside Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, to oversee the repatriation of Buhari’s body. - Arrival and Reception:
Shettima landed in London on Monday morning. He was officially received at the airport by Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
Delegation and Itinerary
- Members of the Delegation:
The team includes Vice President Shettima, Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila, and Shettima’s wife, Nana. They are working through UK procedures to repatriate Buhari’s remains . - Medical Coordination:
Following their arrival, the delegation visited the clinic where Buhari passed away on Sunday at approximately 4:30 p.m. UK time .
Planned Return and National Protocol
- Repatriation Plans:
After finalizing UK formalities, Buhari’s remains will depart London for Nigeria Tuesday, ahead of burial in Daura, Katsina State — in line with Islamic rites and state honours . - National Mourning:
President Tinubu has ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast for seven days and directed that Buhari be accorded a state funeral.
Significance and Reaction
- A Unified Leadership Presence:
The delegation underscores the administration’s intention to treat the former president’s passing with dignity and unity, highlighting Buhari’s prominence as both a military ruler in the 1980s and a democratically elected president from 2015–2023 . - Public Sentiment:
Buhari was widely respected in Nigeria’s Northern region, where he earned the nickname “Mai Gaskiya” (“Man of Truth”) and was remembered for his austere lifestyle and anti-corruption posture
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