Nigeria’s former president Muhammadu Buhari has died at the age of 82 in a London clinic, his family has announced.
Buhari, who governed Nigeria from 2015 to 2023, was reported to have travelled to the United Kingdom in April for a routine medical check-up but subsequently fell ill. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Buhari’s death brings to a close the chapter of a political figure who once ruled Nigeria as a military president in the 1980s and later returned to power through the ballot box three decades later.
In a brief statement on Sunday, Buhari’s family confirmed his passing: “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin.”
From Coup Leader to Elected President
A former army general, Buhari first seized power in December 1983 following a military coup that toppled the civilian government of President Shehu Shagari. His regime was marked by a rigid anti-corruption stance and a reputation for discipline, but was criticized for human rights abuses and press suppression. He was overthrown in another coup in August 1985.
In 2015, Buhari made history by becoming the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s history to defeat a sitting president at the ballot box, unseating Goodluck Jonathan. He was re-elected in 2019 and served two terms before handing over power in 2023.
A Mixed Legacy
Buhari’s presidency focused on fighting corruption and insecurity, but it was also marred by economic downturns, rising inflation, and widespread youth unemployment. His administration faced sustained criticism over its handling of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and the #EndSARS protests against police brutality in 2020.
Despite questions about his health throughout his presidency, including several extended stays in London for treatment, Buhari remained a central figure in Nigerian politics until his retirement.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across Africa and the international community, with many reflecting on the complex legacy of a man who shaped Nigeria’s post-civilian and democratic evolution.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in accordance with Islamic tradition.
