Bamanga Tukur: man of bold ideas says President Tinubu
By Ifeanyi Onuoha
Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the late elder statesman, renowned businessman, and former Governor of the old Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur as man with bold ideas.
Born on September 15, 1935, in Adamawa, and died in September, 2026, at 90 years, Alhaji Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he helped modernise port operations and improve Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The deceased subsequently distinguished himself in the private sector as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, conglomerates with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading, and served as Federal Minister of Industries under the administration of General Sani Abacha from 1993 to 1995.
On the continental stage, Alhaji Tukur was an eloquent champion of Africa’s economic renaissance. As Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, he was a relentless advocate for intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
Tukur was the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014, during which President Tinubu recalls Tukur’s sterling contributions to democracy through enforcing party discipline and building consensus.
President Tinubu described the passing of Alhaji Tukur, the Tafidan Adamawa, as the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
He said Tukur was a towering figure whose distinguished career spanned public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.
President Tinubu recalled Tukur’s colourful foray into politics during the Second Republic, which led to his election as Governor of the old Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1983.
