Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday visited the family of late former President Muhammadu Buhari in London.
Shettima met with the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and the children of the late President, who died on Sunday while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Shettima, who led a federal government team to the UK, is in London on President Bola Tinubu’s directive to help bring Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, said in a statement that Shettima also visited Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, who is currently receiving treatment in a London hospital.
Nkwocha said, “The condolence visits were conducted while the Vice President awaits the conclusion of procedures and documentation for the repatriation of former President Buhari’s body to Nigeria.”
The vice president was accompanied by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia.
Buhari’s remains are expected to arrive Nigeria on Tuesday, with burial scheduled for the same day in Daura, Katsina State, according to Islamic rites.
Buhari died around 4:30 pm on Sunday at a London clinic.
President Tinubu had earlier announced Buhari’s death and ordered that Nigerian flags fly at half-staff in his honour.
Buhari, who ruled Nigeria as a military Head of State from 1984 to 1985, later became a democratically elected President from 2015 to 2023.
During his presidency, Buhari spent several months in London for medical treatment. His longest stay was in 2017 when he spent 104 days abroad.
Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria with Buhari’s remains alongside the federal delegation on Tuesday.
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