President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Saturday at about 4:30 p.m. after a prolonged illness.
The confirmation was made in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
“President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the former president’s widow, and offered his deep condolences,” Onanuga said.
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In a mark of national honor, President Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to the United Kingdom to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
“President Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari’s body back to Nigeria,” the statement added.
Additionally, the president has ordered that all national flags be flown at half-staff as a sign of respect for the late leader.
Muhammadu Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023. He remains a towering figure in Nigeria’s political history.
