By Stanley Nkwocha
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sadness over the passing of former Governor of the old Gongola State and prominent Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, describing his death as a monumental loss to Nigeria and the African continent.
Bamanga Tukur, who was also a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the age of 90.
In a condolence message issued on Sunday, the Vice President described the late elder statesman as a true patriot, global citizen and an institution in his own right.
Senator Shettima said Tukur’s death was not only a loss to Adamawa State and the Fombina Emirate but a significant loss to Nigeria and Africa.
“I am deeply grieved by the passing of our father, mentor and one of Nigeria’s greatest institution-builders, Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, CON, the Tafidan Adamawa, who returned to his Creator today, September 12, 2026, at the age of 90, just three days shy of his 91st birthday,” he said.
According to the Vice President, Tukur lived a life of remarkable impact across three interconnected spheres — as a technocrat who contributed to Nigeria’s maritime development, as a statesman and politician, and as a pan-African business leader who helped promote Africa’s private sector internationally.
Contributions to Nigeria’s Maritime Sector
Paying tribute to his contribution to national development, Senator Shettima recalled Tukur’s appointment to lead the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in 1975 at a time when the nation’s ports were severely congested by the infamous cement armada.
“Nigerians of my generation will never forget that in 1975, when Nigerian ports were gridlocked by the infamous cement armada, a young, brilliant Bamanga Tukur was called to lead the Nigerian Ports Authority. He did not just clear the congestion; he built for the future,” he stated.
The Vice President recalled that during Tukur’s tenure as General Manager and Chief Executive of the NPA from 1975 to 1982, he played a key role in the development of the Tin Can Island Port Complex, while also contributing to the modernisation of Apapa, Warri, Calabar, Sapele and Onne ports.
He said the interventions significantly expanded Nigeria’s cargo-handling capacity and helped strengthen the country’s maritime infrastructure.
Senator Shettima also highlighted Tukur’s international recognition and contribution to the global ports community, describing him as a Nigerian who carried the country’s flag with distinction on the international stage.
Political Career and Public Service
Reflecting on Tukur’s political career, the Vice President noted that his tenure as Governor of the old Gongola State, which comprised present-day Adamawa and Taraba states, was truncated by the military intervention of December 1983.
Despite the short tenure, Shettima said Tukur left an enduring legacy in rural development and education.
He later served as Minister of Industries under the Abacha administration and, between 2012 and 2014, became National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party during one of the party’s most challenging periods.
The Vice President described Tukur as a consensus builder who prioritised institutional stability, noting that he voluntarily resigned as PDP National Chairman in January 2014.
Champion of African Business
Senator Shettima also paid tribute to Tukur’s contribution to the development of Africa’s private sector.
He described the late elder statesman as a continental voice who championed greater economic cooperation and encouraged African businesses to play a leading role in the continent’s development.
As founder and Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, Tukur advocated stronger intra-African trade and private-sector participation in economic development.
The Vice President noted that many of the ideas championed by Tukur have since found expression in initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Beyond Nigeria, Baba Tukur was Africa’s pride,” Shettima said, recalling his involvement with international institutions and advisory bodies across the continent.
He noted that Tukur served on the Ghana Investors Advisory Council, advised the President of the Republic of Benin and received recognition from Côte d’Ivoire and Togo for his continental contributions.
Shettima Condoles Family, Adamawa
The Vice President extended his condolences to the family of the deceased, the Adamawa State Government and the people of the state.
He assured them that Nigeria would continue to remember Bamanga Tukur for his contributions to national and continental development.
Senator Shettima prayed that Almighty Allah would forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, overlook his transgressions, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications
Office of the Vice President
13 September 2026