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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the administration will immortalise former Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.
Shettima described the late elder statesman as a behemoth of institutional memory who will never be forgotten.
He made the announcement on Thursday while leading mourners at the funeral rites of Alhaji, who died earlier in the day at the age of 88 after a brief illness.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, where prayers were offered for the repose of the deceased, the Vice President said Alhaji would be remembered for his dedicated service to the nation.
The vice president also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Alhaji served as Minister of National Planning before his appointment as Minister of Finance during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
He later served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held until 1996.
His public service career began in 1964 as an assistant secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, and he later rose to become a permanent secretary in the then Ministry of Trade.
The funeral drew a large gathering of government officials, traditional rulers, politicians and residents.
On the Vice President’s entourage were Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hadejia; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Labour, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi; and Special Adviser to the President on General Duties (Office of the Vice President), Dr Aliyu Modibbo, among others.
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VP Shettima In Sokoto, Leads Mourners At Burial Of Ex-Finance Minister, Alhaji Alhaji
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima @officialSKSM, Thursday, led mourners at the Janai’za (funeral rites) of the former Nigerian Minister of Finance and… pic.twitter.com/ze2W1SzIop
— Stanley Nkwocha (@stanleynkwocha_) July 30, 2026
