President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the death of former Governor of the old Gongola State, elder statesman and renowned businessman, Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur, who died at the age of 90.
Tukur’s death was confirmed by family sources on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Details surrounding his death were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur was a businessman, politician and public administrator whose career spanned governance, industry, maritime administration, politics and pan-African business.
He rose to national prominence in the 1970s when he served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from 1975 to 1982, where he was credited with contributing to the modernisation of port operations and the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Tukur later ventured into politics and was elected Governor of the old Gongola State, comprising present-day Adamawa and Taraba states, in 1983. His administration was, however, cut short by the military coup that ended the Second Republic later that year.
After leaving political office, he returned to the private sector and founded BHI Holdings, also known as the DADDO Group of Companies, with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.
He subsequently served as Federal Minister of Industries under the military administration of General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1995.
Beyond Nigeria, Tukur played prominent roles in African business and economic development. He served as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group, where he championed intra-African trade, private sector-led growth and sustainable development.
In March 2012, Tukur was elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with the backing of then-President Goodluck Jonathan. He resigned from the position in January 2014 following months of internal crisis within the ruling party.
Reacting to his death, President Tinubu described Tukur’s passing as “the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.”
The President said the late Tafidan Adamawa was “a towering figure” whose distinguished career covered public administration, governance, industry, politics and pan-African business leadership.
According to Tinubu, Tukur was “urbane, generous and deeply rooted in the values of integrity and service” and 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,” the President said.
Tinubu extended his condolences to the Tukur family, the Fombina Emirate of Adamawa, the Adamawa State Government and people, as well as Nigeria’s political and business communities and their counterparts across Africa.
The President also prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive Tukur’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family and all those mourning his death.
Tukur, who held the traditional title of Tafidan Adamawa, was a recipient of national honours, including Commander of the Order of the Mono (COM) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
He is survived by his family.
