President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, the committee will be chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Its mandate is to plan and coordinate a befitting state funeral for the late Nigerian leader.

Members of the committee include top government officials such as the Ministers of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Defence, Information, Works, Interior, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), among others. Also included are the National Security Adviser, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chief of Defence Staff.

The Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

As part of the national mourning, President Tinubu has directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to open condolence registers at the entrances of their offices to allow members of the public to pay their last respects.

In addition, central condolence registers have been opened for the diplomatic community and the general public at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

More details regarding the funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.