Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari passed away on Sunday afternoon, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 in London, England, where he had been undergoing medical treatment in recent weeks, as reported by current President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson.
Buhari served as the leader of Africa’s most populous country twice over the course of his extensive political career; initially as a military ruler from December 1983 to August 1985 following a coup, and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023. He made history as the first opposition candidate to unseat a sitting president when he won the 2015 election on his fourth attempt, defeating then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
President Tinubu promptly sent Vice President Kashim Shettima to London to escort Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria for burial. Additionally, the President directed all national flags to be flown at half-mast for a period of seven days, from Sunday, July 13 to July 20, and announced an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting for Tuesday to pay tribute to the former leader.
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari joined the army at 19 and rose to the rank of major general. He initially assumed control in 1983 as a military leader, aiming to rejuvenate a mismanaged nation through stringent discipline and anti-corruption initiatives. His initial regime was characterized by authoritarian measures, such as executing drug dealers, retrieving misappropriated state assets, and deploying soldiers to enforce traffic laws with whips.
The military government also mandated an estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants to exit the country amid declining oil prices and initiated a “war against indiscipline” that required tardy government employees to perform squats. Nonetheless, Buhari’s first tenure in power lasted just 18 months before fellow military officer Ibrahim Babangida deposed him in August 1985, resulting in 40 months of imprisonment.
After spending much of the subsequent three decades in fringe political parties, Buhari successfully ran for president in 2015, riding a wave of public dissatisfaction with governmental corruption and insecurity. He had previously vied unsuccessfully for the presidency in 2003 and 2007. Originating from Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north, the slender, austere leader pledged to end extremist violence and tackle rampant corruption in one of Africa’s largest economies and oil producers.
Buhari assumed office as Nigeria was grappling with the jihadist group Boko Haram’s abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok in 2014. His presidency saw the safe return of several Chibok schoolgirls, marking a notable success in the battle against extremism. However, thousands of individuals kidnapped by Boko Haram over the years remain unaccounted for.
Despite early assurances, Buhari’s eight-year administration was marred by the same challenges he had vowed to address. Extremist violence, once largely confined to the northeast, spread to other areas, leaving substantial regions outside government control. Armed groups in the northwest, separatists in the southeast, and various gangs operated with increasing impunity nationwide.
The economic situation also deteriorated during his presidency as Nigeria fell into recession amid declining global oil prices and attacks by militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. The currency weakened as Buhari pursued unorthodox monetary policies to maintain its fixed rate to the dollar, resulting in a severe foreign currency shortage. By 2022, oil production fell to its lowest level in more than two decades due to crude theft. Double-digit inflation was a persistent issue throughout much of his tenure.
Buhari’s anti-corruption efforts, a central aspect of his political agenda, did not lead to significant high-profile convictions and faced widespread criticism for limited impact. Rights groups accused him of retaining autocratic tendencies reminiscent of his military rule, especially following the 2020 youth protests against police brutality that led to deadly shootings of demonstrators by soldiers.
The former president’s leadership was further complicated by extended medical absences abroad, creating anxiety among Nigerians and leading to some calls for his replacement. His frequent, taxpayer-funded medical treatments in London, while millions of citizens endured inadequate healthcare facilities at home, provoked significant public discontent. During one absence, Buhari made a rare statement indicating he needed “a longer time to rest.”
By the conclusion of his presidency in 2023, public goodwill toward Buhari had largely turned into dissatisfaction. Insecurity had intensified rather than diminished, and corruption appeared more prevalent than when he assumed office. His administration’s inconsistent response to various crises underscored the difficulty of uniting a country divided along religious and regional lines.
As a Muslim, Buhari is expected to be buried according to Islamic customs in his home state of northwestern Katsina. He was married twice and fathered ten children. Current President Tinubu described him as a patriot, soldier, and statesman who served Nigeria with unwavering dedication, acknowledging that his legacy of service and sacrifice would endure despite the challenges that characterized his time in office.
