According to the statement, the former President died at approximately 4:30 p.m. in a London medical facility.
In honour of the late statesman, President Tinubu has directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across Nigeria, as a mark of respect and national mourning.
President Tinubu has also personally spoken with former First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to offer his condolences. He extended sympathy to the bereaved family, the people of Katsina State, and the nation as a whole.
In a gesture of state honour, the President has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to the United Kingdom to accompany Buhari’s remains back to Nigeria.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. He died today in London at about 4:30 p.m. after a prolonged illness,” the statement read.
“President Tinubu has spoken with Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the former President’s widow, and offered his deep condolences. The President has also ordered Vice President Kashim Shettima to proceed to the United Kingdom to accompany the body of President Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria,” it added.
Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s elected President from 2015 to 2023, previously led the country as a military Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985.
A retired Major General in the Nigerian Army, Muhammadu Buhari was a prominent figure in Nigerian public life for over four decades. He was widely known for his discipline, anti-corruption stance, and austere lifestyle.
His election as President in 2015 marked a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey, as he became the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent president at the polls.
