President Adama Barrow of The Gambia arrived in Nigeria on Friday to offer his condolences to the family of late former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhai, who passed away earlier this month.
President Barrow was received at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina State with a guard of honour, before proceeding to Daura, Buhari’s hometown, where he met with the late President’s family.
He was welcomed by the Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Barrister Abdoulie Garba Faskari, as well as the former First Lady, Madam Aisha Buhari, and other family members.
At the Buhari residence, President Barrow offered his sympathies, describing Buhari as a “colleague, brother and friend who fought for democracy in Africa and The Gambia.” He recalled Buhari’s strong stance during The Gambia’s 2016 political crisis, noting that the late Nigerian leader had stood firmly with the Gambian people at a decisive time.
“If Jammeh wants to challenge the sub-region, he is welcome. I think he has friends here, let them talk to him,” Barrow quoted Buhari as saying during a closed-door ECOWAS meeting in 2016. That statement, Barrow said, was a turning point in the regional efforts that ultimately led to a peaceful transition of power in The Gambia.
Yusuph Buhari, the eldest son of the late President, spoke on behalf of the family and expressed deep appreciation for President Barrow’s visit. “It means a lot to us,” he said. “It shows how far our father’s actions and values reached beyond Nigeria.”
Gambia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Hon. Hamat NK Bah, who was part of the delegation, also paid tribute to Buhari’s legacy. He highlighted Buhari’s firm support for democracy in The Gambia at a critical moment in the country’s political development.
After meeting the family, President Barrow and his delegation visited the late President’s grave and offered prayers for his eternal rest.
Buhari passed away in London on 13 July 2025 and was buried in Daura two days later. He served as Nigeria’s President from 2015 to 2023 and is widely credited for playing a key mediating role during The Gambia’s political impasse in 2016/2017, when then-President Yahya Jammeh initially refused to concede defeat after losing the election to Barrow.
President Barrow’s visit underscores the strong bond between Nigeria and The Gambia, and serves as a reminder of Buhari’s influence beyond his country’s borders.
