Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur was a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former governor of the old Gongola State, and one of Nigeria’s prominent public servants and renowned businessmen and an elder statesman.
The elder statesman passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, according to a statement issued by his eldest son, Awwal Bamanga Tukur, who is the current Secretary to the Adamawa State Government (SSG).
The statement read, “It is with profound sadness and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that the family announces the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Alhaji Bamanga Mohammed Tukur, who returned to his Creator today, 12th September 2026.”
TUKUR was born on September 15, 1935. Alhaji Tukur rose to national prominence as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982, where he helped modernize port operations and improve Nigeria’s maritime sector.
His death is truly the end of a remarkable chapter in Nigeria’s political and economic history.
Alhaji Tukur was remembered as an urbane and generous statesman, deeply anchored in the values of integrity, service, and responsibility that the Adamawa Emirate and the nation hold dear. A man of big ideas and bold enterprise, he believed firmly in Nigeria’s vast potential and devoted much of his life to public service, politics, and business.
His passing marks the loss of a distinguished voice whose wisdom, fatherly guidance, and wealth of experience enriched Nigeria’s public life. The nation, his community, and those who benefited from his counsel will, undoubtedly, sorely miss his presence and enduring contributions.
Tukur’s influence, however, extended well beyond his traditional and business circles. He was a prominent political figure whose activities during the Second Republic earned him a place among the notable political leaders of the era. In 1983, his political journey culminated in his election as governor of the old Gongola State, an area that now comprises Adamawa and Taraba States.
Following his tenure in public office, Tukur distinguished himself in the private sector, where he built a reputation as an entrepreneur and business leader. He served as Chairman of BHI Holdings and the DADDO Group of Companies, business conglomerates with interests spanning manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and trading.
His return to national public service came under the military administration of General Sani Abacha, when he was appointed Minister of Industries, a position he held from 1993 to 1995.
Across politics, business, and public administration, Tukur’s career reflected a life spent at the intersection of enterprise and public service—leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate across Adamawa and beyond.
Alhaji Tukur was a persuasive advocate for Africa’s economic revival on the continent. He was a steadfast supporter of intra-African trade, private sector-led growth, and sustainable development while serving as Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group and Executive President of the African Business Roundtable.
From March 2012 until January 2014, Tukur served as the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) national chairman.
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