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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of elder statesman, businessman and former Gongola State governor, Bamanga Tukur, who died at 90.
Tinubu described Tukur’s death in a press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, Information & Strategy, on Saturday as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, was born on September 15, 1935, and built a career spanning public administration, politics, business and pan-African leadership.
He served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 1975 to 1982, where he helped modernise port operations and Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Tukur later entered politics and was elected governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, before the state was divided into present-day Adamawa and Taraba states.
He also held senior positions in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.
Tukur served as National Minister of Industries under General Sani Abacha’s military government between 1993 and 1995.
On the African continent, he championed economic integration, serving as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.
He advocated intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
Tukur also served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.
Tinubu recalled his contributions to democracy through party discipline and consensus-building.
“Alhaji Tukur was urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service that the Adamawa Emirate and the nation hold dear.”
“He was a man of big ideas and bold enterprise who believed in Nigeria’s limitless potential. Nigeria will sorely miss his wise counsel and fatherly guidance,” Tinubu said.
The President extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Adamawa State Government and people, and political and business communities across Nigeria and Africa.
Tinubu also prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort those mourning his death.
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU MOURNS ELDER STATESMAN, ALHAJI BAMANGA TUKUR
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mourns the passing of elder statesman, renowned businessman, and former governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at age 90.… pic.twitter.com/U6DbBvFDln
— Bayo Onanuga, OON, CON (@aonanuga1956) September 12, 2026
