NIGERIA’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, has died at the age of 82. He passed on in a clinic in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Buhari will be remembered as the country’s second longest serving leader—nine years, seven months and 27 days — as one who enforced strict discipline during his time as military head of state.
After three consecutive failed attempts, Buhari was able to return to power in 2015 after defeating the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, by 2,571,759 votes.
His winning campaign had emphasised three key promises: to tackle insecurity, stamp out corruption, and fix the economy.
Here are some quick facts about the former military and civilian leader:
1 – Buhari was born into a Muslim family in Daura, Katsina State, North-West Nigeria, in 1942.
2 – He attended the Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina) from 1956 to 1961.
3 – He joined the Nigerian Army in 1961 when he was admitted to the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna.
4 – He was Nigeria’s second longest serving leader:— 9 years, 7 months and 27 days; He spent 1 year, 7 months and 27 days as military leader (Dec 31, 1983 to Aug 27, 1985) and eight years as democratically elected President (May 29, 2015, to May 29, 2023).
5 – He was the first military governor of Borno State in 1976.
6 – He was Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources: 1976
7 – First Chairman, NNPC: 1977
8 – He was Chairman, Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF): 1994
9 – On December 31, 1983, as a General, Buhari became the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
10 – His regime as a military leader was renowned for instilling discipline among citizens, popularised by the War Against Indiscipline.
11 – Buhari joined politics in 2003, following Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
12 – He contested the presidential election five times, contesting under three political parties(ANPP, CPC and APC),lost three times in 2003, 2007, and 2011, won in his fourth attempt at the presidency in 2015 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, defeating the then-incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan.
13 – Buhari was elected and inaugurated twice as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2015 and 2019.
14 – The former president was married to Safinatu Yusuf from 1971 to 1988, and Aisha Halilu since 1989.
15 – He was blessed with 10 children.
16 – He died in a clinic in London on July 13, 2025, aged 82.