Former President Muhammadu Buhari, who led Nigeria both as a military ruler and later as a democratically elected head of state, died on the afternoon of July 13, 2025, in a London clinic.
The announcement came via a statement from his family, released by his former aide, Garba Shehu, on X. As one of Nigeria’s most recognisable leaders, Buhari’s death marks the end of a long and often controversial public life.
Buhari’s Political Journey
Buhari first came to power in December 1983 following a military coup that overthrew the administration of President Shehu Shagari. During his military rule from 1983 to 1985, he launched a high-profile war against corruption, starving wasteful spending and austerely enforcing discipline within government ranks.
His administration earned both praise for its anti-graft drive and criticism for its heavy-handed tactics, including detentions without trial and strict press censorship. He was eventually deposed in August 1985 by another military coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida.
After nearly three decades in private life, Buhari reentered the political arena as a civilian candidate. Running on a platform of integrity and change, he won the 2015 presidential election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeating the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan.
His election ended sixteen years of uninterrupted rule by the People’s Democratic Party and raised hopes that Buhari’s decades-long reputation for uprightness would translate into more transparent governance.
As civilian president from 2015 to 2023, Buhari faced daunting challenges: blocking a deadly Islamist insurgency in the northeast, reviving a stalled economy battered by low oil prices, and fighting endemic corruption.
His administration did score some notable victories—disrupting Boko Haram’s supply lines, funding new rail and road projects, and booting out or prosecuting several high-profile officials accused of graft.
Yet critics argued that his economic policies were slow to create jobs, that security gains were uneven, and that hunger and hardship gripped many communities still struggling with poverty.
In 2023, Buhari stepped aside after completing two four-year terms, yielding the presidency to Bola Tinubu in a peaceful transition. He returned to private life, occasionally weighing in on national affairs and quietly supporting anti-corruption efforts.
Known for his modest demeanour and simple personal style, often favouring local dress and avoiding pomp, Buhari remained a figure both admired for his integrity and debated for the costs of his security measures.
Plans for Buhari’s funeral and burial will follow Islamic customs and are expected to be announced by his family in the coming days.
As Nigeria prepares to bid farewell to a leader whose life straddled military governance and democratic politics, his passing invites a broad reassessment of the strides made and the challenges that remain in the country’s ongoing journey toward stability and good governance.