Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Dies in London

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London, July 13, 2025 — Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has died in London, according to an official statement released by his longtime spokesperson, Garba Shehu. The former leader passed away on Sunday while receiving treatment at a hospital in the British capital.

Buhari, 82, served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, becoming the first opposition candidate in the country’s history to defeat a sitting president. His presidency was marked by a strong stance against corruption, an aggressive anti-insurgency campaign against Boko Haram, and mixed economic reforms that drew both praise and criticism.

“President Muhammadu Buhari passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday at a London hospital where he had been receiving medical care. He was surrounded by close family members,” the statement read.

Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari was a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army and had previously ruled Nigeria as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985 before being overthrown in a coup. After decades in the political wilderness, he reemerged as a civilian president under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.

Throughout his presidency, Buhari maintained close ties with the United Kingdom, often traveling to London for medical reasons during and after his time in office.

Tributes have poured in from across Nigeria and around the world. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a brief statement, described Buhari as “a patriot who gave his all for Nigeria’s unity, security, and progress.”

The Nigerian government is expected to announce national mourning and funeral arrangements in the coming days.

Muhammadu Buhari is survived by his wife, Aisha Buhari, and several children.