By Salim Yunusa
President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after spending 18 days in London, the United Kingdom.
Buhari’s plane, Nigeria Air Force 1, touched down at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6pm on Friday.
Buhari returned as Ahmed Joda, elder statesman who served as chairman of the transition committee that ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, died. The President mourned the former minister and described him as a hero.
The President was received at the airport by his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd); Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor; Chief of Army Staff; Lieutenant-General Farouk Yahaya; Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amoo; the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello.
On arrival, Buhari inspected a guard of honour mounted by officers and men of the Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army before watching displays by cultural troops representing different cultures.
Thereafter, the President hopped into an helicopter which took him to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Nigeria Police Force had on Thursday night hinted that Buhari will return to Abuja on Friday.
He spent two weeks in the United Kingdom during which he attended an international summit on education as well as visited his private doctors for routine medical check-up.
On Thursday, President Buhari met National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said to be recuperating in London.
