The Buhari Regime (1984-85): JAMB History Questions, Answers & Notes

What The Buhari Regime (1984-85) covers in the JAMB History syllabus

General Muhammadu Buhari came to power through the coup of December 1983 that ended the Second Republic, with Tunde Idiagbon as his deputy. His military regime is famous for the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), which aimed to promote discipline, orderliness and civic responsibility, and for strong action against corruption — trying and detaining some Second Republic politicians. Facing a difficult economy (low oil revenue, debt), it introduced austerity measures and tried to reduce dependence on foreign imports. The regime was criticised for strict measures affecting human rights and the press. It was overthrown in a coup in 1985 that brought Ibrahim Babangida to power. The main point: the Buhari (1984-85) military regime stressed discipline (WAI) and fought corruption before being overthrown in 1985.

For The Buhari Regime (1984-85), JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Recall Buhari's 1983/84 coming to power (after the Second Republic) and deputy Idiagbon
• Recall the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), anti-corruption trials and austerity
• Note criticism over rights/press and the 1985 overthrow by Babangida

Key facts & revision notes: The Buhari Regime (1984-85)

These are the recurring points our The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• General Muhammadu Buhari came to power through the coup of December 1983.
• Buhari's regime is famous for the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaign.
• The War Against Indiscipline aimed to promote discipline, orderliness and civic responsibility.
• Buhari's government took strong action against corruption, trying and jailing some Second Republic politicians.
• The regime faced a difficult economic situation, with low oil revenue and debt.
• The regime was criticised for strict measures affecting human rights and the press.
• The government tried to reduce dependence on foreign imports and encourage local production.
• The Buhari regime was overthrown in a coup in 1985.
• The 1985 coup brought Ibrahim Babangida to power.
• Buhari's deputy (Chief of Staff) was Tunde Idiagbon.
• The regime introduced economic austerity measures to cope with the downturn.
• The regime is remembered for emphasising discipline and accountability in public life.
• A controversial policy was strict control of the press/media.
• The regime detained some Second Republic politicians on corruption charges.
• The Buhari (1984-85) regime was a military government.
• The War Against Indiscipline is associated with Buhari (1984-85).
• The Buhari (1984-85) regime ended in a coup in 1985.
• Babangida overthrew Buhari in 1985.
• The Buhari (1984-85) regime came to power after the Second Republic.
• The main point is that the Buhari (1984-85) military regime stressed discipline (WAI) and fought corruption before being overthrown in 1985.

Worked examples

Three The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How The Buhari Regime (1984-85) is tested in JAMB History

Our The Buhari Regime (1984-85) bank holds 20 questions (1 easy, 13 medium, 6 hard). JAMB History typically returns to The Buhari Regime (1984-85) year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on The Buhari Regime (1984-85). If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one History item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at The Buhari Regime (1984-85) is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in The Buhari Regime (1984-85)

The errors that cost marks on The Buhari Regime (1984-85) are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise The Buhari Regime (1984-85) actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Buhari Regime (1984-85) part of the JAMB History syllabus?

Yes. The Buhari Regime (1984-85) is a recognised topic in the JAMB History syllabus, covering recall Buhari's 1983/84 coming to power (after the Second Republic) and deputy Idiagbon. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about The Buhari Regime (1984-85)?

General Muhammadu Buhari came to power through the coup of December 1983 that ended the Second Republic, with Tunde Idiagbon as his deputy. His military regime is famous for the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), which aimed to promote discipline, orderliness and civic responsibility, and for strong ac…

How do I answer The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for The Buhari Regime (1984-85). Practising timed The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB History The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise The Buhari Regime (1984-85) questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start The Buhari Regime (1984-85) practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME History syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.