Bamanga Tukur

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Bamanga Tukur
Bamanga Tukur
Governor of Gongola State
In office
October 1983 – December 1983
Preceded by Abubakar Barde
Succeeded by Mohammed Jega
Born 1935
Political party National Party of Nigeria
Profession Businessman
Religion Muslim

Bamanga Tukur (born 1935) is a prominent Nigerian businessman and politician who was a Minister for Industries during the administration of General Sani Abacha. He is one of the high profile civil servants and military officers who acquired large areas of farmland along the various River Basin authorities. He is currently the president of the Africa Business Roundtable.

[edit] Life and career

Bamanga Tukur is a resident of Adamawa State and was once the governor of the old Gongola State, which encompassed Adamawa and Taraba States. He was also a former member of the board of Trustees of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He came to national attention in the mid 1970's, as the general manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, it was a time the agency was having problems with congestion as a result of a massive cement importation scheme that was started at the twilight of Yakubu Gowon's administration. During his tenure, the government built a few more seaports to ease the transaction cost associated with shipping and to ensure adequate facilities for Nigeria's import and export needs.

In 1982, he left his position as general manager and soon contested the Gongola gubernatorial race, which he won. Tukur served as governor for three months before the democratic administration was curtailed by a military coup. After leaving the Gongola State House, he entered full scale entrepreneurship, and was the founder and chairman of BHI holdings (DADDO group of companies). In 1992, he was an unsuccessful presidential candidate for the National Republican Convention, during which he and a few rivals of Adamu Ciroma lobbied for the cancellation of the first primary due to allegations of favoritism leveled against the leadership of the party. During this period, his friendship with some Nigerian firms raised concerns about his ethical disposition, as he was a board member of the Nigerian branch of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

Recently, Tukur worked with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

[edit] References