President Bola Tinubu will personally receive the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari when they arrive in Katsina on Tuesday, the Federal Government has announced.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

He said that Buhari’s body would be received with a brief military ceremony at the airport before being transported to Daura, the late president’s hometown, for funeral prayers and burial.

Idris said, “The remains of the late President are expected to arrive in Nigeria by noon. The President will receive the body at the Katsina airport. From there, it will be moved to Daura for Islamic funeral rites and interment at his residence.”

He added that President Tinubu has approved a state burial and constituted an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the funeral activities. The committee is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, and includes the ministers of defence, interior, finance, health, Federal Capital Territory, housing, and others. The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), will serve as the secretariat for the committee.

According to the minister, 25 members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have been directed to participate in the funeral programme and remain in Daura for the third-day prayers scheduled for Wednesday, July 16.

The presidency has also postponed the special FEC meeting initially planned for Tuesday, July 15, to Friday, July 18, to allow officials to attend the burial. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, confirmed the postponement, noting that the new date would be communicated after the conclusion of funeral activities.

In a related development, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced a public holiday for Tuesday, July 15, to honour Buhari. The announcement was made through the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani. Tunji-Ojo said the holiday is intended to give Nigerians the opportunity to reflect on the former president’s life and leadership.

“President Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria with dedication and an unwavering commitment to unity and progress,” Tunji-Ojo said. “This holiday is a gesture of respect for his legacy.”

The minister also noted that condolence registers have been opened at all federal ministries, departments, agencies, Nigerian embassies and missions abroad, and at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Buhari died on Sunday in London after a prolonged illness. Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, travelled to the United Kingdom to coordinate the repatriation of his remains.

President Tinubu has declared seven days of national mourning, starting Sunday, July 13, during which the national flag is to be flown at half-mast across the country.