Though former President Muhammadu Buhari hailed from Daura in Katsina State, his legacy is visibly honored in Borno State, where several major public facilities have been named after him. These structures reflect his administration’s relationship with the state and his impact on security and infrastructure in the Northeast region.
Here are five prominent public assets in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, named in Buhari’s honour:
Muhammadu Buhari Airport Maiduguri,Formerly known as Maiduguri Airport, this facility was renamed in 2023 under the Tinubu administration. The change was part of a nationwide initiative to rename several federal airports after notable Nigerians. The renaming was communicated in a memo issued by the Federal Ministry of Aviation, signed by the Director of Airport Operations, Mrs. Joke Olatunji.
Muhammadu Buhari Trauma Center Maiduguri,This 150-bed trauma centre is located within the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). It was virtually commissioned by Buhari in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and serves as a major healthcare facility addressing trauma-related cases in the region.
Muhammadu Buhari Academy Maiduguri Commissioned in 2019, this boarding school was built to support children orphaned by Boko Haram insurgency. The 60-classroom school and accompanying hostel blocks were initiated by former Governor (now Vice President) Kashim Shettima and completed by Governor Babagana Zulum. It was named after Buhari in recognition of his administration’s role in combating insurgency in Borno and the broader Northeast.
University of Maiduguri Senate Building,Constructed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the University’s Senate Building was inaugurated in 2018 and named after Buhari. Positioned near the institution’s entrance, the building symbolizes his administration’s support for higher education and institutional development. Muhammadu Buhari university known as the University of Maiduguri, this federal university was founded in 1975 during Nigeria’s Third National Development Plan. On July 17, 2025, President Bola Tinubu announced the renaming of the university in honour of Buhari at a Federal Executive Council meeting. The move was described as a tribute to the former president’s service and his contribution to the Northeast.
