Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will be buried today in Daura, Katsina State, at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. President Tinubu has declared seven days of national mourning and ordered flags at half-staff. Buhari died in a London clinic on Sunday, July 13, 2025. A federal government delegation led by the Vice President
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will be buried today in Daura, Katsina State, at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. President Tinubu has declared seven days of national mourning and ordered flags at half-staff. Buhari died in a London clinic on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
A federal government delegation led by the Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President left for the United Kingdom Sunday evening to receive and accompany the corpse of the former President to Nigeria.
The President, via a statement released by his Special Adviser, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, offered condolences to the family of the former president, who died in London yesterday after a long illness.
According to the statement, President Tinubu referred to former President Buhari as someone whose career included both military and civilian leadership roles. He noted that Buhari served as a military head of state and was later elected president from 2015 to 2023, emphasising his involvement in promoting the country’s unity and development.
“He stood firm through the most turbulent times, leading with quiet strength, profound integrity, and an unshakeable belief in Nigeria’s potential. He advocated for discipline in public service, actively tackled corruption, and consistently prioritised the country over personal interests.
President Tinubu has called an emergency Federal Executive Council meeting to formalise national honour for the late former president. “I have directed all national flags across the country to fly at half-staff for seven days from today as a mark of respect to our former leader.”
“I have also summoned an emergency Federal Executive Council session on Tuesday, dedicated to his honour. The Federal Government will accord President Buhari full state honours befitting his towering contributions to our country.”
The President also instructed the Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Vice President Kashim Shettima to go to London and return to Nigeria with the body of the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buhari’s Death
On Sunday, July 13th, 2025, Mr. Garba Shehu announced the death of former Nigerian president and military leader Buhari at age 82. Shehu stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Buhari died after a long, undisclosed illness and recent medical treatment abroad.
“The family of the former president has announced the passing of Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin,” Mr Garba Shehu wrote in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).
While in office, the former president often visited the United Kingdom for medical treatment. His health reportedly improved after his term ended, but it declined again until his passing.
Apart from his health issues, Buhari was well known for his anti-corruption and integrity mantra, on which he was presented to the country as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, in which he won against the incumbent, former president Goodluck Jonathan, breaking the record of the first to unseat a sitting president in the country.
Former President Buhari’s Profile
Muhammadu Buhari was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, as the 23rd child of his father, Adamu, and was raised by his mother, Zulaiha, following his father’s death at his early childhood, when he was about four years old.
Buhari began his education in Daura and Maiduguri from 1948 to 1952, then transferred to Katsina Middle School in 1953. He later attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College, Katsina) from 1956 to 1961, where he earned the West African School Certificate.
The late former president married his first wife, Safinatu Yusuf, in 1971, but they later separated in 1988. In 1989, he married Aisha Halilu. He had ten children from both marriages.
A High-Ranking Military Officer with an Outstanding Career
Late Muhammadu Buhari was enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1961, where he rose to the position of Major General, and later became the military head of state. At the beginning of his career,he trained at the Nigerian Military Training College in Kaduna. Between 1962 and 1963, he attended the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in January 1963.
He went further to take the Platoon Commanders’ Course in Kaduna (1963–1964) and was later appointed Platoon Commander, Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta. He also has further military training, which included the Mechanical Transport Officers’ Course, Borden, UK (1965); Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India (1973), United States Army War College (1979–1980).
The former president held several important command and political roles during his military career, including General Officer Commanding two important Army divisions, Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Military Governor of the North Eastern State, and Military Secretary.
He was also one of the soldiers who participated in the Nigerian Civil War, which took place from 1967 to 1970.
He rose to national leadership through the military coup of December 1983, becoming Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. He was removed from office in a countercoup in August 1985. He was also jailed for forty months before he was later released in 1988, when he retired to his hometown in Daura.
Civilian Life and Attempts to Become President
After he retired from the military, Muhammadu Buhari was one of the former military officers who attempted to become Nigeria’s democratically elected president. He began his political journey in 2003 to become the president. His first and second attempts in 2003 and 2007 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) were dashed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Umar Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defeated Buhari’s ambition.
Buhari made his third attempt on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011. He decided to form a merger with other progressive parties in 2014 to create a new party, the All Progressives Congress party, for the 2015 general election. He won the 2015 general election and became the president after three failed attempts.
Governance and Leadership Style
Known for his integrity mantra and anti-corruption campaign, Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year administration was not one without its pros and cons. His administration focused on infrastructural facilities and economic stability. he built the modern railway in the country. However, the country’s economy suffered a huge blow of recession during his government.
Following his death, many dignitaries have been sending their condolences to the family and friends of the late former president Muhammadu Buhari.
