The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, as a public holiday to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.
This announcement comes as tributes continue to pour in for the late Nigerian leader who passed away on Sunday after a protracted illness. His burial, scheduled for Tuesday, will follow Islamic rites and is expected to attract dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond.
In a statement issued late Monday, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the holiday was declared to allow Nigerians to mourn and pay their last respects to a man widely described as a patriot who served the country with unwavering commitment.
“The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as a work-free day in memory of His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who served Nigeria in various capacities with honour and distinction,” the statement read.
As part of the national mourning, the leadership of the National Assembly also announced the suspension of all plenary sessions and committee activities this week.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in separate statements, described Buhari’s passing as a “monumental loss” to Nigeria’s democratic history.
Buhari, a retired Major General, first ruled Nigeria as a military head of state between 1983 and 1985 and later returned to power as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
He is remembered for his strong stance on anti-corruption, national security reforms, and infrastructure expansion, although his tenure also drew criticism over human rights concerns and economic challenges.
In Daura, preparations for the final burial rites are already underway. Security has been beefed up in and around the late president’s residence and key locations in the ancient town.
Mourning Buhari, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said in a nationwide broadcast, “Nigeria has lost a leader, a reformer, and a man who gave his all to the service of the nation.Though we may differ on methods, there is no question about his patriotism and personal discipline.”
In similar tributes, former presidents, state governors, traditional rulers, and global leaders have expressed condolences to the Buhari family and the people of Nigeria.
Buhari’s legacy, political observers say, will remain a subject of public discourse for generations to come, reflecting the complexities of leadership in a diverse and developing nation.
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