The President cut a birthday cake decorated in the country’s colors of green, white, and green, which was presented to him by his advisers.

According to Mallam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Buhari went straight to chair a planning meeting with officials in his delegation after cutting his birthday cake and then drove to the Dolmabahce Palace for a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Recep Erdogan.

Buhari was cited by the presidential spokesperson as stating that because he was out of Abuja, he assumed he would be able to avoid the funfairs of the birthday celebration.

Buhari further pledged that in the few months until his term ends in 2023, he would continue to serve the Nigerian people diligently.

After completing his term as President of Nigeria, the President stated that he looks forward to retiring to his farm.

“I thought that being away from Abuja I will escape these things. The Guards Brigade had written to tell me what they wanted to do on this day. Now here you are doing this far away from home.

“I look forward to the year 2023 when I finish, to go home to take charge of my farm. Between now and that time, I will do the best that is possible to advance the interest of the nation and its people, and carry out my duties as prescribed by the Constitution,” he said.

President Buhari was wished a happy birthday in good health, many healthy years ahead, and the energy to give his best to the nation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who spoke on behalf of other officials and the delegation, including the Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey, Ismail Yusuf Abba.