Nigeria is mourning the loss of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away in London on Sunday at the age of 82, following a prolonged illness.
His death was confirmed by a statement from the office of President Bola Tinubu.
“President Buhari died today in London at approximately 4:30 p.m., after battling ill health for some time,” Tinubu’s spokesperson announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Buhari served as Nigeria’s democratically elected president from 2015 until 2023, following a decisive victory that ended the 16-year rule of the People’s Democratic Party. Before his return to power as a civilian leader, Buhari had also ruled Nigeria as a military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985, after seizing power in a coup.
Throughout his time in office, Buhari was known for his tough stance on corruption and efforts to revamp Nigeria’s troubled economy, though his tenure was also marked by widespread insecurity and economic challenges.
In one of his last major public appearances, Buhari attended the commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos in May 2023 — a project he hailed as a milestone for Nigeria’s industrial ambitions.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
