Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has announced the renaming of Shendam Road, a major route in the state capital, Lafia, after the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. The road, which cuts through the prominent Three-Arm Zone, will now be known as Muhammadu Buhari Way.
Governor Sule made the announcement during a solemn prayer session held at the Palace of the Emir of Lafia to honour the late president, who passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, and was buried in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, on Tuesday, July 15, in accordance with Islamic rites.
To give legal backing to the renaming, Governor Sule said his administration would send an executive bill to the State House of Assembly. He described the gesture as a way to immortalise a man who considered Nasarawa State his second home and left an indelible mark on the state’s development.
“We will not forget the late President Buhari,” Sule said. “He stood for honesty, discipline, and integrity. His life offers countless lessons, and we are proud to honour him this way.”
The event drew prominent political figures from within and beyond the state, including former governors Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, who both paid glowing tributes to the late president. The Emir of Lafia, HRH Justice Sidi Bage Mohammed I, hosted the gathering, which featured both Christian and Muslim clerics offering prayers for Buhari’s soul.
Senator Adamu, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), commended the state government and traditional leadership for organizing the tribute. He praised Buhari’s enduring impact on Nigeria and his deep affection for Nasarawa State.
Senator Al-Makura, visibly emotional, referred to himself as one of Buhari’s political sons, recalling how Nasarawa was the only state that delivered victory for Buhari’s defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) during the 2011 general elections.
“Even in death, Buhari would be happy knowing that Nasarawa—his political second home—is paying him such great honour,” Al-Makura said.
Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu also lauded the initiative, stating that the tribute was not only for Buhari but a reflection of the state’s values. He noted that during Buhari’s presidency, many sons and daughters of Nasarawa were appointed to key national positions.
Governor Sule also took the opportunity to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the exceptional honour accorded to Buhari during his burial, especially by directing Vice President Kashim Shettima to accompany the body from London and personally receive it in Katsina.
“No Nigerian president has ever received this level of posthumous honour. We thank President Tinubu for showing such deep respect,” the governor added.
Other dignitaries at the prayer session included Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau; Chief Judge of the state, Justice Aisha Bashir; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji; and the Aren Eggon, HRH Justice Ahmed Ubangari (rtd.), who spoke on behalf of the State Council of Chiefs.
The ceremony marked a moment of unity in Nasarawa as leaders across political, religious, and traditional lines came together to remember a man they described as a patriot, a disciplinarian, and a friend of the state.
