28 Things You Didn’t Know About late PDP Natl Chair, Bamanga Tukur

Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, is dead. He was 90.

Tukur, a former Governor of the old Gongola State and former Minister of Industries, died on Saturday at about noon at his residence in Abuja, three days to his 91st birthday.

His death was announced in a statement issued by his former media aide, Oliver Okpala, with the consent of his children, Awwal Tukur and Lami Tukur.

His remains will be taken to Adamawa State for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

28 things you probably did not know about Alhaji Bamanga Tukur (1935 – 2026)

1. He was born on September 15, 1935 in Yola, Adamawa State.
2. He attended Islamic and Quranic centres in Yola under Modibbo Goni Abubakar.
3. He attended Jada Elementary School from 1946 to 1949.
4. He attended Yola Middle School, now Ramat College, from1949 to 1953.
5. He attended Government Secondary School, Bauchi from 1954 to 1957.
6. He was house prefect of Madawaki House and passed the London General Certificate Examination.
7. He attended Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied Accountancy and Public Finance, 1958–1959.
8. He attended Northwest Polytechnic, London where he studied Marine Transportation.
9. He attended London School of Economics where he read Transportation, Economics and Statistics in 1965.
10. He attended University of Pittsburgh, USA where he earned Master’s degree in Public and International Affairs, 1965–1966.
11. He also received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Law from Benue State University.
12. He modernized Nigerian ports: as a GM of NPA from 1975–1982.
13. He pushed reforms that improved cargo turnaround and maritime operations before many port reforms became national policy.
14. He was elected governor of old Gongola State in 1983 under the NPP, but only served a few months before the military coup cut the Second Republic short.
15. He served as Federal Minister of Industries from 1993–1995, overseeing Nigeria’s industrial policy during a turbulent period.
16. He became National Chairman of PDP in March 2012 at age 76, and was known for trying to enforce discipline and internal consensus in the party.
17. He served in top government roles across 3 different republics as NPA boss under military, governor in 2nd Republic, and minister in Abacha era.
18. He chaired BHI Holdings and DADDO Group, with interests in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and trading.
19. He worked to promote indigenous participation in Nigeria’s shipping industry, a cause he partnered on with lawyers/businessmen like Adewole Adebayo.
20. As Chairman of NEPAD Business Group, he pushed private-sector led growth and intra-African trade long before AfCFTA.
21. As Executive President, he was one of the loudest voices for an African economic renaissance in the 2000s.
22. He attracted and worked on investment projects in Adamawa, including agriculture and logistics ventures.
23. He held the traditional title Tafidan Adamawa in the Fombina Emirate.
24. He was survived by 2 wives and 18 children. One of his sons, Awwal Tukur, is the current Secretary to the Adamawa State Government.
25. He died on Sept 12, 2026, just 3 days shy of his 91st birthday on Sept 15.
26. Adamawa State declared 3 days of mourning with flags at half-mast after his death.
27. In line with Islamic rites and family wishes, he was laid to rest at his family house in Fadde-Sanda, Yola, after prayers at the Lamido’s Palace.
28. He was often described by peers as “a man of big ideas and bold enterprise” who believed Nigeria and Africa’s potential was limitless.