Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president and one-time military ruler, has died.He passed away on Sunday at a hospital in London at the age of 82, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu. “The family of the former president has announced the passing of Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin,” Shehu posted on X.
The former president had reportedly been undergoing treatment at the facility for several weeks. He had travelled abroad in April for what was initially described as a routine medical check-up, but his condition later worsened.Buhari served as Nigeria’s elected president from 2015 to 2023 and previously led the country as a military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. He stepped down on 29 May 2023 after completing two constitutional terms.
During his presidency, Buhari frequently sought medical attention in the United Kingdom. Although his health appeared stable after leaving office, it deteriorated again in April 2025, leading to his extended medical stay in London.Born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was the 23rd child of his father, Adamu. Following his father’s death when he was around four, he was raised by his mother, Zulaiha.
He began his education in Daura and Maiduguri, continued at Katsina Middle School in 1953, and later attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School from 1956 to 1961, where he earned the West African School Certificate.Buhari married Safinatu Yusuf in 1971; they separated in 1988. In 1989, he married Aisha Halilu. He had ten children from both marriages.
He joined the Nigerian Army in 1961, receiving initial training at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna, then further training in the UK and India. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1963. His military education included:* Platoon Commanders’ Course, Kaduna (1963–1964)* Mechanical Transport Officers’ Course, Borden, UK (1965)* Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India (1973)* U.S. Army War College (1979–1980)Throughout his military career, Buhari held several high-ranking roles including Military Governor of the North Eastern State, Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Chairman of NNPC, Military Secretary, and General Officer Commanding key divisions.
He became Nigeria’s military head of state following the 1983 coup and was removed from power in a counter-coup in 1985.After Nigeria transitioned to democracy in 1999, Buhari entered politics and became a major opposition figure. He ran for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011 but was unsuccessful. In 2013, he co-founded the All Progressives Congress (APC), which became a dominant political force.
In 2015, running under the APC, he won the presidency on a platform promising to fight corruption and improve security and governance. He was re-elected in 2019. His administration was defined by anti-corruption efforts and large-scale infrastructure projects but was also marked by increasing insecurity, economic difficulties, and concerns over civil liberties. Buhari’s death closes a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political and military journey. Respected by many and criticised by others, his influence on the country’s post-independence history is undeniable.
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