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Why Niger Delta should be grateful to Tinubu, by Ogbuku

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the Niger Delta should be grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the development of the region.

Ogbuku said the commission was determined to make the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government a reality in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that the Board and Management of the commission remained committed to the mandate given to NDDC by Tinubu to change the narrative in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, in a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said, “President Tinubu charged us to complete and deliver all abandoned critical projects across the Niger Delta Region.

“Niger Deltans should be grateful to Mr President for his commitment to ensuring the sustainable development of the region. I can assure you that before the end of Mr President’s tenure, we will complete all abandoned legacy projects.”

Ogbuku attributed the high number of uncompleted projects of the commission to previous leadership instability.

He said that one of the challenges of the NDDC in the past 25 years was the high turnover of leadership, adding: “In the past 25 years, NDDC has had 16 Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers, which caused instability in the system.”

Speaking about collaborations with other organisations, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC had made significant gains since it adopted Public-Private Partnerships, PPPs, as a major policy thrust.

He said, “For most of our projects, we adopted the Partnership model as it’s easier to drive projects with Partnership.”

He said one of such positive outcomes was signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the NDDC and the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) to collaborate on key projects that would impact the people positively.

He said, “One area we have improved upon is in project monitoring. All our state offices have been equipped with vehicles and other necessary equipment for project monitoring.

“Since we came on board, to ensure our people are not spectators, we ensured that local contractors do several of our projects. The quality of jobs is a result of adequate supervision, and we ensure that they meet international standards through our oversight. Local contractors do several of the projects we have been commissioning.”

Ogbuku said that the commission, as part of its rebirth and rewind policy, was “transiting from transaction to transformation” in the process of developing the Niger Delta region.

In the area of entrepreneurship, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC, through the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, had streamlined engagement in giving support to farmers and verifiable entrepreneurs in the region.

Read Also: Niger Delta is peaceful, says Ogbuku

He said, “We have built a comprehensive database for the youths in the region. This will enable the Commission to plan, as well as share relevant data with other development agencies that may require it for their planning purposes.”

The Managing Director affirmed that the commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.

Reflecting on the achievements of the NDDC, Ogbuku said, “We believe that in partnership with stakeholders, we are going to achieve more, and development in our region will be faster and more holistic. We are not competing with any state government, as we only complement their efforts”.

Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had implemented measures to ensure financial discipline within the commission, adding that the development necessitated the engagement of KPMG to design a corporate governance system for the commission.

He explained that the corporate governance structure would increase the confidence of partners who worked with the commission.

July 17, 2025
Veterans’ welfare now a reality under Tinubu, says Legion chairman

Chairman of the National Council of Nigerian Legion, Ms. Grace Morenike Henry, has assured Veterans that their welfare will no longer be on paper but a reality under the present administration.

Ms Henry gave the assurance when he visited the Chairman of the Military Pensions Board (MPB) in Abuja.

She noted that a time has come for a renewed push for improved welfare for veterans as part of its efforts to ensure military retirees enjoy better lives after living active service.

Ms Henry described the Legion, which is administered by military veterans themselves, as a “critical partner in the management of the post-service life of our gallant personnel.”

She said, “The time has come for the Nigerian Legion and the Military Pensions Board to work more closely.

“We owe it to the veterans’ community to ensure that their welfare is not just a priority on paper but a lived reality. I believe collaboration is the way forward.”

Read Also: Ogun pledges support to Abeokuta All Stars for Veterans Cup

Chairman of MPB, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Adamu, pledged the board’s commitment to enhanced service delivery.

He noted that the welfare of veterans remains the MPB’s core priority, affirming his readiness to work with the Nigerian Legion to improve pension processing, gratuity disbursement, and overall post-service care.

“We are open to collaboration with the Legion. We share a common purpose, to serve those who have served our nation. Any step that brings added value to veterans’ lives will be pursued with full dedication,” Adamu said.

July 17, 2025
APC youth group urges Tinubu, Akpabio to back Sani Musa for national chairman

A prominent political advocacy group, the APC Youth Solidarity Network for Progressive Change, has called on President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to urgently persuade Senator Mohammed Sani Musa to contest for the position of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by its National President, Gideon Oche, the group said the APC must not leave its leadership to chance as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Describing Senator Musa as a “bridge between generations” and a “strategic institutional thinker,” the group said his leadership would be critical in rebuilding and repositioning the APC for long-term electoral success.

“The continued dominance of our party in Nigerian politics hinges not just on policy but on the strength, vision, and foresight of its internal leadership,” the statement read.

According to Oche, Senator Musa possesses the right blend of youthfulness and experience, idealism and wisdom, making him a uniquely qualified candidate to lead the party at this crucial time.

“We are making this patriotic call with the deepest sense of urgency. Senator Sani Musa is not just a ranking senator; he is a party man with deep institutional memory, strong political values, and a clear understanding of how to navigate the future,” he said.

The group urged President Tinubu and Senate President Akpabio to take a leading role in guiding the party toward a credible internal succession process that will promote unity and inspire confidence heading into the 2027 elections.

“2027 is not as far away as it seems. The next National Chairman of the APC will either lead this party into a new era of strategic coherence or preside over its decline. We believe Senator Mohammed Sani Musa is the kind of figure who can inspire cohesion, renew confidence in the party, and restore credibility to the APC’s national secretariat,” the statement reads.

Oche further noted that Senator Musa’s track record in the Senate, particularly as chairman of key committees on finance, electoral reform, and technology, has shown his capacity to lead with foresight and pragmatism.

He described the senator as a “seasoned politician and leader” whose background in public service and governance places him in a unique position to refocus the APC from within.

“In a time when political parties around the world are being tested for their relevance, the APC must not wait to be forced into crisis. It must take proactive steps to install a leadership that can inspire trust both within and beyond its membership. Senator Musa represents that quiet strength, that intelligent discipline, that deliberate vision the APC needs at this time,” the group said.

Read Also: Chinese president condoles with Tinubu over death of Buhari

The statement warned against allowing political patronage or elite compromise to dictate the future of the party, saying the selection of the next National Chairman must be one rooted in merit, historical understanding, and national projection.

“We cannot approach 2027 with business as usual. We need a party leader who understands the stakes—who is respected in both the North and South, who is accessible to young people and the political establishment alike. Senator Musa is that person,” Oche insisted.

The group concluded by reiterating its call on President Tinubu and Senate President Akpabio to “kindly but firmly” encourage Senator Sani Musa to offer himself for national service through the position of National Chairman, saying history will judge their roles in shaping the party’s future.

“Posterity beckons. Senator Musa must now be called upon to serve—not out of ambition, but out of duty,” the statement added.

July 17, 2025
Group warns against attempts to disrupt Tinubu-Shettima alliance ahead of 2027

The Northern Vanguard (NV), a political advocacy group based in Abuja, has issued a strong warning to what it described as “desperate elements” allegedly working to undermine the growing synergy between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the group’s President, Chief Edward Gulak, urged political detractors to end the “orchestrated campaign of discord” aimed at weakening the unity between the two leaders.

Chief Gulak described the current atmosphere in the presidency as one of “uncommon loyalty, harmony, and shared vision,” adding that any attempt to sow division between Tinubu and Shettima was “not only mischievous but deeply unpatriotic.”

“We are aware that some political merchants, driven by envy and personal bitterness, are hoping to manufacture a rift between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in order to destabilise this administration ahead of 2027,” he said.

He noted that such individuals are disappointed by the strong and united front presented by the President and his Vice, contrasting it with the strained relationship that once existed between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar.

Gulak also commended President Tinubu for what he described as “an inspired decision” in choosing Shettima as his running mate in 2023, noting that the former Borno State governor has fulfilled the expectations of his office with diligence and loyalty.

“Mr. President must be commended for the foresight he showed in picking Senator Kashim Shettima—a man of character, discipline, and strategic depth—as his partner in progress. Those who underestimated his impact in the corridors of power now recognise that Shettima brings much more than symbolic balance to this ticket; he brings substance,” Gulak said.

The Northern Vanguard went on to catalogue the vice president’s qualities, describing him as “a cerebral, loyal, and pragmatic public servant who has chosen to subordinate personal ambition to national interest.”

“Shettima is not just a former governor with experience; he is an intellectual force, a patriot, and one of the few leaders who fully understands the complexities of Nigeria’s security, economy, and regional dynamics,” Gulak added.

He warned that any attempt to ignite division between the two leaders will be resisted by Nigerians who value peace, cohesion, and continuity.

“Nigerians are not interested in palace gossip or recycled scripts of infighting. They want leadership that works, that listens, and that delivers. And that is exactly what this duo is offering. If you destabilise them, you destabilise Nigeria,” Gulak said.

According to the group, the ongoing loyalty and camaraderie between Tinubu and Shettima offer Nigeria a rare opportunity to build political stability that transcends election cycles.

Read Also: Chinese president condoles with Tinubu over death of Buhari

“Those who wanted to turn the Villa into a boxing ring between principal and deputy must now accept that history will not repeat itself. Vice President Shettima has shown uncommon maturity and statesmanship. He has remained loyal to his principal, refrained from unnecessary headlines, and committed himself to the business of governance,” the statement read.

The group also called on the media and public commentators to be more discerning in their coverage and analysis, urging them to resist “subtle manipulations by agenda-driven actors who seek to invent crisis where none exists.”

As Nigeria’s political class begins to prepare for the 2027 polls, the Northern Vanguard urged all stakeholders to channel their energies toward nation-building rather than sowing seeds of suspicion and division.

“This administration needs focus, not friction. Those manufacturing conspiracy theories must be reminded that Nigerians are watching, and history will not be kind to those who choose sabotage over service,” Chief Gulak concluded.

July 17, 2025
Arewa Think Tank : Tinubu will inherit North’s votes

A northern socio-political group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT), has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for according the late former President Muhammadu Buhari a befitting state burial in Daura, Katsina State. He declared that the gesture has endeared Tinubu to the North and positioned him to inherit Buhari’s massive support base in the region.

The group’s Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, in a statement yesterday, described the state burial as a testament to President Tinubu’s deep respect for his predecessor and unwavering commitment to national unity.

Yakubu predicted that just as Buhari secured over 12 million votes from the North in the 2019 presidential election, President Tinubu would also reap similar electoral fortunes in the region, given the growing confidence of the people in his leadership.

Read Also: Traditional institutions key to nation building, says Shettima

According to him, the befitting state burial was not only a mark of honour for Buhari’s contributions to Nigeria, but also a vote of confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership capacity and his ability to foster unity across the country.”

He urged Nigerians to give President Tinubu the opportunity to deliver on his promises and consolidate on the gains made under Buhari, especially in the areas of economic stability, security, and democratic governance.

“The people of Northern Nigeria appreciate President Tinubu’s thoughtful gesture and will surely reciprocate with their votes in future elections,” Yakubu said.

July 17, 2025
Why Southwest should endorse Tinubu for second term now, by Ojo
- ‘ADC no threat to President’
Southwest should rise in support and endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term to ginger his supporters, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said.

Pro Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Governing Council Mr. Kayode Ojo stated this last weekend while reflecting on the need for president’s re-election.

The Coalition of opposition to the President put together by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) and the movement of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) triggered early political moves ahead of the 2027 election.

Ojo explained that while other zones such as the Northeast and the Southsouth have endorsed the President for second term, nothing had been done by the Southwest APC.

“President Tinubu as a Democrat believes in strong opposition, hence such Coalition remains another platform for opposition members to assist the government where necessary especially at achieving the desired success on the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.

“All the Governors in the region irrespective of political inclinations should without further delay organise a joint endorsement rally in solidarity and appreciation for President Bola Tinubu GCFR as a sole candidate for the presidential election just as recently done in other regions.

“President Tinubu’s sacrifice and bold decision for Nigerians through the removal of fuel subsidy inorder to ensure that more funds are available to all governors for the purpose of infrastructural development is a step in the right direction. Also, the release of N1 trillion infrastructural support to all states in the country apart from huge monthly allocations will boost development,” he said.

Read Also: FEC holds special tribute session for Buhari Thursday

It has become “necessity, a must and sine qua non” for all progressive minded people across the South-West geo-political zone of the country to embrace and support President Tinubu not by mere occasional statements alone but with physical actions in order to demonstrate to the world that, the support base of the President is intact.

The move will not only encourage the President to intensify more action on the development of the country but will also be a sign of unity of purpose for the development of the region especially with the establishment of Southwest Development Commission under the leadership of Sen. Olubunmi Adetumbi.

It is high time the region comes out stronger to fast-track development through robust support for the President ahead of 2027 general elections. The trend will no doubt ensure cohesion and political stability are needed as a yardstick for overall development.

Praising President Tinubu on the establishment of Southwest Development Commisssion, the UNN’s Pro-Chancellor called on People of the region irrespective of political or religious inclinations to see the Commission as an opportunity to bring about more development in the region, hence the need for more support and prayers for the President to succeed.

It is to say the least that, the commission will fast-track the needed development in all nooks and crannies of the region especially in the areas of infrastructural projects, social amenities, health, education, agriculture and economic prosperity for all.

President Tinubu’s foresight and commitment towards the development of the country must not be taken for granted, therefore, politicians must be more interested at delivering dividends of democracy for the masses rather than any parochial or selfishness political ambition that can jeopardise the good foundations being laid at every sector of the nation’s economy by the present administration.
July 17, 2025
Trump’s humiliation of some African presidents

Some opponents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria had been jubilating that President Donald John Trump of the United States of America snubbed Nigeria by not inviting him along with the presidents of Gabon, Guinea – Bissau, Senegal, Mauritania and Liberia even before they knew the subject of the discussion.

Thank God Nigeria was not invited because if we had been invited and talked down the insulting way these presidents were treated, our president would not have been able to return home either with honour or dishonour. Nigerians would have been so upset by such a humiliation meted to these presidents that our claim to sovereign nationhood would have meant nothing and the honour of an independent sovereignty that our fathers fought for would have been seen to have been dragged in the mud and stepped upon by somebody who feels black people were nothing but hewers of wood and drawers of water.

When I saw those black leaders standing before Trump in the White House as specimens of inferiority, I remember what Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana used to say to Africans in my youth that it was better to be kings in our African independent countries which critics of African countries said were being poorly run, than being slaves in the paradise of colonial tutelage of white-ruled African countries which were presented as heaven on earth. It has now transpired that the American administration is looking for land for dumping immigrants rejected from America. In the case of Nigeria, we had apparently been approached to take Venezuelans described by Trump as murderers, rapists, robbers and rogues. The man must love us and wish us so well that these are the types of exports America thinks we deserve. As respectfully and diplomatically as it was possible, Nigeria had told the Americans that we have our own problems at home and would not like to add to them. The five countries of Gabon, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mauritania must have told the Americans that they were prepared to help America solve its domestic problems of getting rid of its unwanted immigrant population which had become a population bomb in the USA.

Perhaps if we had been represented at the highest level of having an ambassador in the USA, the Americans would have been told that Nigeria would not accept any of the immigrants Trump was looking for a place to dump and that Nigeria was not that type of a country that would accept rejects from another country and that Nigeria was poor but not poorly insane.

I don’t know why after two years, President Tinubu has found it inconvenient to send ambassadors to all countries that Nigeria has accreditation. This kind of subject would have been discussed at official ambassadorial levels and sorted out and would not have been elevated to presidential level. I plead with our president to fill all ambassadorial positions not only for the purpose of adequate representation and raising the flag, but for the traditional role of ambassadors in the promotion of trade and political relations. The real fact is that Nigeria is not a strategic country to the United States. We had chance to be strategic to the United States but the old-fashioned diplomats who surrounded Aso Rock between 1999 and 2015 blew the chance when the USA approached us with locating the African command in Nigeria and we said a flat “No” when we could have answered in the affirmative but attached conditions to it such as helping us to develop Nigeria‘s navy and air force comparable with that of Egypt and promoting considerable American investment in our military and industrial complex. If we had been in a strategic position as we were when in the 1970s and 1980s when we supplied the USA with considerable amount of petroleum and gas, they would not have insulted us with asking us to take immigrants from Latin America.

Trump is used to humiliating African countries. Recently he brought the presidents of Rwanda and the Congo DR and virtually locked them in the White House and gleefully announced to the journalists assembled in the White House lawn that he has two African presidents who had been fighting for about two decades and who had listened to nobody about peace but to him to settle their problems and had listened to him, a global peace maker and were making peace at his instance. Then later, he produced the grinning African leaders who claimed they were ready to sign a peace agreement. The following day, the Congo president said he was ready to alienate vast amount of land to American companies to prospect for all kinds of strategic minerals. It is this kind of freehand in Africa that led him to decide which African countries he would invite to be shown to the world grovelling before him and ending by nominating him for the Nobel peace prize which any reasonable person knows would be a kiss of death for the Nobel organization at least in the peace category.

Read Also: Buhari’s death a major loss to Nigeria, Africa, says Shettima

Looking at the weak African countries invited, one can identify commonalities among them. They are all small countries population-wise. Gabon is just about one million and Guinea-Bissau is even less. Senegal, Liberia and Mauritania are in the region of between 15 and 20 million and these figures are by world and African standards, relatively small and they are all by economic standards, poor countries. Some people have suggested that they constitute countries from where immigrants flood the United States. That is not true. Gabon and Guinea-Bissau do not fit that picture. Senegal and Liberia have large diaspora communities in the USA and there are historical ties between Liberia and United States because the founding of Liberia in 1847 was by liberated African slaves. As for Mauritania, there are very few people from Mauritania in the USA. The only reason why Mauritania was included was to elevate Mauritania to the level of the Arab states that have established diplomatic ties with Israel. Bringing the dirt-poor Mauritania into the American orbit serves as a link with those Arab countries establishing ties with Israel.

The other foreign dimension for us in Nigeria is that four of the five countries are members of ECOWAS – namely Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Mauritania. The most surprising one of these countries is Senegal which has just elected a left wing government and had just closed down French military base in the country or perhaps they are looking for replacement for France because of the economic implications of the closure of the French military base. Gabon on the other hand has natural resources and is rich in oil, timber and other minerals and has a small population which if well run, should be a viable and stable country.

Nigeria needs to interrogate why countries in ECOWAS would take humiliating steps that could embarrass them and the region and Africa without first discussing it at the regional level and intimating Nigeria that had invested human and material resources in their stability. These are difficult questions to ask ourselves about non-diplomatic representation even at regional level if not at the global level. If we have had full functioning embassies with relevant intelligence officers, information would have reached our government about what the United States was going to be asking African states to do; we would have been in a position to influence the reaction of other African states at least those in our region because when an African state is embarrassed, we are all humiliated a little even if not directly but at least vicariously.

July 17, 2025
Nigeria’s progress under Tinubu is impressive, Portable declares

Controversial singer Portable has expressed his support for President Bola Tinubu, praising him as a man of action who focuses on working quietly rather than responding to public insults.

In a video, Portable said that Nigeria is progressing under Tinubu’s administration and that things are improving.

Portable attributed the country’s progress to Tinubu’s leadership, describing his tenure as the best.

He encouraged others to recognise the positive changes, stating that the president is delivering on his promises.

Read Also: North Central APC group backs Sani Musa for national chairman, seeks Tinubu’s support

Portable said, “Since when dem don born me, wey Nigeria don dey, e go better, e go better, na Tinubu tenure Nigeria better, na Tinubu make Nigeria better, Tinubu best president.

“Tinubu’s time is the best. Don’t let anyone deceive you. Tinubu is doing what he promised. Go and check. Things are getting better. We are behind Tinubu 100%.”

July 16, 2025
North Central APC group backs Sani Musa for national chairman, seeks Tinubu’s support

The North Central APC Accord, a political pressure group within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has formally endorsed Senator Mohammed Sani Musa as the next national chairman of the party, following the resignation of Abdullahi Ganduje.

In a statement jointly signed by its President, Rev. Matthias Ikani, and Secretary General, Ambassador Moses Audu, the group described Senator Musa as “the most credible and unifying option” for a party at a crossroads, and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the APC to cede the position to the North Central zone in the interest of fairness, stability, and renewed internal cohesion.

“We make this call not on the basis of mere sentiment, but from a long-standing conviction that Senator Sani Musa represents the future of progressive leadership in our party. He is calm, visionary, tested and trusted. In a time when our party needs internal healing and national balance, Senator Musa is the bridge between legacy and future,” the statement reads.

The group argued that since the party’s inception in 2013, the North Central has remained one of the most loyal and consistent support bases for the APC, delivering crucial victories in national elections, yet repeatedly overlooked in the zoning of strategic positions, including the chairmanship.

“This is a matter of equity and justice. Our region has played its part in building and sustaining this party from the days of the CPC-ACN merger. Yet, the North Central has never produced a substantive national chairman. Now that a vacancy has emerged, it is both timely and just that we are given the opportunity to lead — and Senator Musa is best positioned to take up that mantle,” the group added.

Senator Musa, who represents Niger East in the Senate and currently chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, is widely seen as an experienced hand in both legislative and party affairs.

“He has no baggage, no history of factionalism, and no record of backroom deals that damage public trust. We have watched Senator Musa closely — in his constituency, on the floor of the Senate, and within the party. He exudes discipline, strategic thinking, and humility. These are the qualities our party needs at the center right now,” the statement added.

The North Central APC Accord warned that imposing a chairman from outside the zone, or one lacking grassroots acceptance, could further fracture the party and diminish public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Our democracy is maturing, and the APC must reflect that maturity. Leadership cannot be reduced to reward systems or political survival tactics. It must reflect balance, inclusion, and merit. Senator Musa represents a safe pair of hands, someone who will not alienate key blocs, and who understands the national character of our party.”

Read Also: Group backs Sani Musa for national chairman, seeks Tinubu’s support

The group also appealed to President Tinubu to lead by example and support the move toward inclusion, fairness and internal democracy — values he once championed in his years as national leader of the party.

“The President has a historic opportunity here to reinforce the unity of the party by supporting a process that is inclusive and consultative. We know the kind of legacy Mr. President wants to leave behind. Supporting Senator Musa as national chairman is a firm step in that direction.”

Calling on other stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones, the North Central APC Accord said the time has come to “restore integrity, loyalty and inclusiveness to the leadership of the party”, warning against a return to divisive politicking and elite capture.

“We are not asking for a handout. We are demanding what is right — for the North Central, and for the APC. We do not want a party driven by the whims of a few; we want a party led by visionaries who will secure its future,” the statement said.

Several youth and women groups across the country have also announced their endorsements in recent days, calling him “a servant leader with the right temperament”.

July 16, 2025
Tinubu, Shettima, foreign leaders bid Buhari farewell in Daura

Former President Muhammadu Buhari was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, amid outpourings of grief and reverence.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led a high-powered delegation of Nigerian and foreign dignitaries to bid him farewell.

Buhari, who died in London on Sunday, July 13, was interred at his Daura residence at exactly 5:50 p.m. following Islamic funeral rites, including the Salatul Janazah led by Sheikh Salisu Rabiu, Imam of the Central Mosque, Daura.

His final journey was marked by solemnity, prayers and full military honours, including a reveille and a 21-gun salute in tribute to his service to Nigeria.

Thousands of mourners thronged the streets of Daura and gathered around the residence to catch a final glimpse of the man who had twice led the country—first as military head of state from 1984 to 1985, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.

Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and a host of dignitaries—including President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger Republic Ali Lamine Zeine, former Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo—joined the funeral procession as Buhari’s remains were transported from the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina to Daura.

The casket bearing the late President’s body arrived aboard a Nigerian Air Force plane at 1:51 p.m. and was received with full ceremonial honours.

From there, it was driven in a solemn convoy to Daura, where a brief lying-in-state ceremony was held at his home before the Janazah prayer.

“The final rites were carried out in line with Islamic traditions, and in the presence of President Tinubu, family members, senior government officials, and friends,” a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed.

Read Also: Firm launches institutional services in Nigeria to empower fintech innovation

The burial marks the beginning of a weeklong programme of national mourning.

Later Tuesday evening, members of the Presidential Committee on State Burial will pay a condolence visit to the bereaved family in Daura, continuing the Federal Government’s tribute to the late statesman.

Buhari’s passing has triggered an avalanche of condolences from across the globe.

Tributes have poured in from current and former African leaders, world bodies, and Nigerians of all walks of life, many of whom have described him as a man of integrity, discipline, and unflinching patriotism.

His widow, Aisha Buhari, was present at the burial, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Also in attendance were Governors, Ministers, traditional rulers, military top brass, captains of industry, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Nigeria remains in mourning with flags flying at half-mast and special prayer services expected to continue across the country in the days ahead.

July 15, 2025