President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Vice-President Kashim Shettima to London in order to accompany the body of late president Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria.
He also directed that national flags be flown at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the departed leader”.
Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on media and strategy, in a statement confirmed that Buhari died in London around 4.30pm on Sunday.
The statement read in part: “President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs Aishat Buhari, the former President’s widow and offered his deep condolences.
“President Tinubu has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari’s body back to Nigeria.”
President Tinubu was reported to have sent the Vice-President to visit Buhari in the hospital last week on learning of his hospitalisation.