Fifty-eight-year-old Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua died at his presidential villa on Wednesday, state TV has said.
A presidential aide and the information minister confirmed his death. Mr Yar'Adua, who became president in 2007, had been ill for some time.
The government announced seven days of national mourning and said the president would be buried on Thursday.
Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan - who became acting president in February - will be sworn in later, reports say.
The Nigerian Television Authority interrupted its normal programming to announce the news, in a brief statement early on Thursday.
The announcer said: "The president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, died a few hours ago at the presidential villa.
Mr Yar'Adua, a Muslim, will be laid to rest later on Thursday in his home state of Katsina, in the north of the country.
Reports from Nigeria said Mr Yar'Adua died between 2100 (2000 GMT) and 2200 (2100 GMT) on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja.
May his soul rest in peace. Amen!
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