Mr Shagari, a Nigerian politician who served as the first and only President of Nigeria's Second Republic, after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government in 1979, died on December 28, 2018, at the National Hospital in Abuja, after a brief illness. He was 93 years.

In a letter dated Thursday, December 31, 2018, President Akufo-Addo indicated to President Buhari that the death of the former Nigerian President was a loss not only to Nigeria, but also to Africa as a whole.

“We have all lost a remarkable statesman who would be well remembered for his modesty and humility, in spite of the great heights he achieved.

“On behalf of the government and people of Ghana, I express to you, his family and the brotherly people of Nigeria our sincere condolences on his death. I pray that his commitment to public service will continue to inspire current and future generations of Africans,” the President said.