Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, aged 82, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a London clinic following a prolonged illness, as confirmed by his former aide, Bashir Ahmad, and spokesperson, Garba Shehu, via posts on X.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was a retired Major General who led Nigeria twice: first as military head of state from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985, after a coup, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023.
Buhari made history in 2015 as the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, in a landmark election. Re-elected in 2019, his presidency focused on anti-corruption campaigns, infrastructure development, and combating the Boko Haram insurgency, though it faced criticism for economic struggles, including two recessions, and worsening security.
His administration’s infrastructure projects, like rail lines and highways, were notable, but policies like maintaining an artificially high naira value drew scrutiny for economic mismanagement.
President Bola Tinubu, Buhari’s successor, expressed condolences and directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria for burial in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, per Islamic rites.
The Katsina State Government declared July 14, 2025, a work-free day in his honor, and Nigerian flags will fly at half-staff. Tributes from leaders like the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and ECOWAS highlighted Buhari’s moral courage and contributions to African democracy.
No specific cause of death was disclosed, though Buhari had sought medical treatment in London for extended periods during his presidency, sparking public concern.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by his family, survived by his wife, Aisha, and ten children. His death, alongside that of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on the same day, marks a significant loss for Nigeria.
