Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, has died in a London hospital on Sunday, 13 July, 2025, following a prolonged illness, the Nigerian presidency has confirmed.
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s head of state both as a military ruler and later as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, was widely known for his anti-corruption campaign and efforts to reform governance in Africa’s largest economy.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement, described him as “a true patriot and a dedicated servant of Nigeria.” Vice President Kashim Shettima has been dispatched to London to oversee the repatriation of the former leader’s remains for burial in Katsina State. Though Buhari was praised for his fight against corruption and major infrastructure projects, his presidency was also marked by economic hardship, insecurity, and criticism over human rights abuses, including during the #EndSARS protests.
A state funeral is expected, and the federal government is set to declare a period of national mourning.
Tributes have poured in from Nigerian leaders and global figures, including the African Union and the United Nations, who praised Buhari’s role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy and regional diplomacy.
