Nation Mourns as Former Finance Minister Abubakar Alhaji is Laid to Rest, Government Vows Immortalization

The remains of Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, a distinguished former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and revered elder statesman, were interred on Thursday at the Hubbare royal cemetery in Sokoto. Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, who held the esteemed traditional title of Sardaunan Sokoto, passed away at the age of 88 on Thursday at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, concluding a remarkable public service career that spanned several decades.

His burial was conducted strictly in accordance with Islamic rites, following a solemn funeral prayer led by Sheikh Bello-Akwara, the Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Juma’at Mosque. The ceremony saw a significant gathering of national and state dignitaries. Vice-President Kashim Shettima was prominently in attendance, representing President Bola Tinubu. Other notable figures present included the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu. The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Idris Gobir, while the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Tukur Bala Bodinga, also joined other mourners.

Following the funeral, Vice-President Shettima paid a condolence visit to the Sultan and other relatives of the deceased, offering prayers for the peaceful repose of Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji’s soul and comfort for his grieving family. Shettima eulogized the late elder statesman, describing him as a “behemoth of institutional memory” whose contributions to the nation would never be forgotten. The Vice-President further announced that the Federal Government intends to immortalize Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji in recognition of his immense service.

Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji’s illustrious career included serving as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance from 1985 to 1986, a critical period during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, where he also held the portfolio of Minister of National Planning. Beyond these significant ministerial roles, he also served as a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held until 1996 after his tenure as Finance Minister. His public service journey began in 1964 as an Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, from where he steadily rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary in the then Federal Ministry of Trade, highlighting a remarkable federal civil service career. He was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost technocrats, playing a pivotal role in shaping economic policies and managing the nation’s relations with international financial institutions during challenging economic times, leaving an enduring legacy in public administration.