The Nigerian Government has announced the constitution of a high-powered Inter-Ministerial Committee to coordinate the state burial of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari,, who passed away in a London hospital on Sunday.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, who also chairs the committee, revealed that ten serving ministers, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), and other top officials have been appointed to ensure a dignified and seamless burial process.
Members of the committee include:
- Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
- Minister of Budget and Economic Planning
- Minister of Defence
- Minister of Information and National Orientation
- Minister of Works
- Minister of Interior
- Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- Minister of Housing and Urban Development
- Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare
- Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy
- National Security Adviser
- Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination
- Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters
- Inspector General of Police
- Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS)
- Chief of Defence Staff
The Office of the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), will serve as the committee’s secretariat.
In addition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed 25 members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to proceed to Katsina for the burial rites and to remain until the third-day prayers in Daura, scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025.
In honour of the late president, President Tinubu declared seven days of national mourning starting from Sunday, July 13. During this period, all flags are to be flown at half-mast across the country, with both public and private sectors directed to comply. A public holiday has also been declared for Tuesday, July 15.
A special FEC meeting originally slated for Tuesday has now been postponed to Friday, July 18.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima is currently leading a federal delegation in London to finalize documentation for the repatriation of Buhari’s remains. The body is expected to arrive in Katsina by 12 noon on Tuesday, where it will be received by President Tinubu during a brief military ceremony at the airport.
Following that, the remains will be taken to Daura for the Jana’iza (Islamic funeral prayer) and interment at the late President’s residence.
The government also announced that condolence registers have been opened in all Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, and at Nigerian embassies and missions around the world.
President Tinubu continues to receive messages of condolence from world leaders, reflecting the stature and legacy of Buhari, who served Nigeria as a military ruler from 1983 to 1985 and as a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.
