President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, joined by some African leaders, received the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.
The African leaders who were present include President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who joined to receive the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.
The President had earlier in the day left Abuja for Katsina to participate in the burial arrangements of the late President who died on Sunday, in London.
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Bayo Onanuga, the Presidential Spokesman, disclosed on his X handle that President Tinubu arrived at the airport at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force plane conveying the remains of his predecessor landed at exactly 1:51 p.m.
Recall that former President Buhari passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London hospital.
Buhari’s body was escorted to Nigeria by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President President Buhari’s wife Aisha, and other family members accompanied President Buhari’s remains to Nigeria.
“On arrival of the body, President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Umaru Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine, former President of Niger, Issoufou Mahamadou, and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, received the casket of the late president at the foot of the aircraft.
“A joint team of military pallbearers comprising nine senior officers laid the casket, draped with the Nigerian flag, on a trolley.
“The team included Major-General Mohammed Usman, Major-General Oluwafemi Williams, Major-General Shuaibu Nudu, Rear Admiral Suleiman Dahun, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ajodo, Rear Admiral Samuel Ngatuwa, Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Herbert Amesinlola, Air Vice Marshal Idi Sanni, and Air Vice Marshal Obinna Obiabaka. Major General Mike Alechenu coordinated the team.”
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The pallbearers, according to him, “wheeled the former leader’s casket in a slow march, in sync with the hymn “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” passing through a full military guard of honour comprising six officers and 96 soldiers drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
“President Tinubu and others walked behind the casket trolley in a solemn procession. The pallbearers escorted the casket into a waiting military hearse for the one-hour journey to Daura, where funeral prayers and the burial ceremony would take place.”
Other state funeral activities which took place at the airport include full military honours, as well as a 21-gun salute.
