Muhammadu Buhari (1942 – 2025) Pres Tinubu, world leaders mourn Nigeria’s two-time Head of State

By Salifu Faridat and Abdullahi Lukman

 

The death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was announced on Sunday, July 13, 2025, by his former spokesperson, Garba Shehu, through an official post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) page.

According to the announcement, Buhari passed away peacefully earlier that afternoon at a private clinic in London. He was 80 years old.

Buhari served as Nigeria’s military Head of State from 1983 to 1985, and later as the country’s democratically elected president between 2015 and 2023, making him the longest-serving national leader when both tenures are combined.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led national mourning on Sunday evening, describing Buhari as “a disciplined leader whose vision shaped Nigeria’s security, infrastructure, and global standing.”

Condolences have since poured in from world leaders, African regional blocs, multilateral organisations, and climate justice advocates, many of whom recall Buhari’s vocal participation in global environmental negotiations.

During his second term in office, Buhari became increasingly visible in international climate diplomacy, culminating in Nigeria’s landmark pledge at the COP26 Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow on November 2, 2021.

“Nigeria is committed to net-zero by 2060. I am not just here to talk. I am here to ask for support for delivery,” Buhari declared at the conference, positioning Nigeria among the first African oil-producing nations to make such a long-term emissions commitment.

He signed the Climate Change Act into law later that year, establishing a legal framework for emissions targets, carbon budgeting, and a national climate governance council.

At the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, also in 2021, Buhari made the case for fairness in climate action, stating:
“The fight to redress the climate crisis is not about empty promises.

 

It is about fairness and survival.”
He warned that Nigeria’s regions were already experiencing climate-linked disasters:
“Desertification in the north, flooding in the middle belt, and coastal erosion in the south — for us, climate change is real and now.”

His environmental advocacy extended to long-standing ecological issues like the shrinking of Lake Chad, which he repeatedly described as a global emergency:
“The shrinking of Lake Chad is an ecological disaster that fuels poverty, migration, and insecurity. It is no longer a local problem. It is global.”
At the Paris Peace Forum in 2019, Buhari urged the international community to prioritise funding for the lake’s restoration and climate-resilient livelihoods for affected communities.

 

During the COP27 summit in Egypt (2022), he argued strongly for a just energy transition:
“Africa contributes the least to climate change, yet suffers the most. Our energy transition must be just, equitable, and financed.”

 

Despite criticism over implementation gaps at home, Buhari’s environmental diplomacy was widely acknowledged by African partners and international observers. Under his leadership,

 

Nigeria recommitted to the Great Green Wall Initiative, pushed for increased climate finance, and backed regional carbon market development proposals.

He often framed the environment as a national security issue, stating in 2021:
“I have directed that environmental issues receive national security-level attention. We are treating the climate crisis as we would treat any existential threat.”

As the world reflects on Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy, tributes have increasingly highlighted his late-career shift toward environmental justice, positioning him as a prominent African voice on climate equity and resilience.

 

More official reactions are expected in the coming days from the United Nations, African Union, and key multilateral climate platforms.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari, 82, passed away this afternoon, July 13, 2025, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes from prominent Nigerian figures and international well-wishers.
He was a statesman remembered for his unwavering commitment to public service, discipline, and integrity.

His death was confirmed by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who along with his wife Dolapo, spoke with Buhari’s widow Aisha Buhari and son Yusuf Buhari to express condolences.

Osinbajo described Buhari as “a true patriot” whose “legacy will endure as a testament to the nobility of public service.”

Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed profound sadness, highlighting Buhari’s “unflinching patriotism, stoic discipline, and a lifelong commitment to the sovereignty and unity of our great nation.”

Abubakar called his death “a profound national tragedy,” emphasizing Buhari’s role as “a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience” from the battlefield to power.

Global Islamic scholar Mufti Menk also expressed his sorrow, referring to Buhari as “a legend” and an “upright man” known for his integrity and discipline.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan shared his heavy heart, remembering Buhari as “a notable leader, patriot, and elder statesman” who served Nigeria “to the best of his abilities.”

Jonathan lauded Buhari’s courage, discipline, and significant contributions to the nation’s peace and progress, noting his admiration across society for his “decency, integrity and exemplary life of service.”
Condolences and prayers for comfort have been extended to the Buhari family, the people of Katsina State, and all Nigerians mourning this significant loss. Many pray for his soul to find eternal rest.