Vice President Kashim Shettima landed in London on Monday, July 14, to accompany the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria, following the ex-president’s death on Sunday.

Acting on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Shettima was joined on the trip by the president’s chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Upon arrival in the United Kingdom, the delegation was received by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.

The visit was confirmed via a post on the vice president’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday morning.

President Tinubu had, in an official statement, announced Buhari’s passing and directed Shettima to oversee the arrangements for the late leader’s return to Nigeria for burial.

As a mark of national mourning, the President also ordered all flags across the country to be flown at half-staff for seven days in honor of the former President, who died while receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness in London.

Buhari served as Nigeria’s elected president from 2015 to 2023 and was previously the country’s military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985.

Further details on funeral arrangements are expected in the coming days.