Abubakar Dantsoho Leads NPA Tributes as Former Boss Bamanga Tukur Dies at 90

Abubakar Dantsoho Leads NPA Tributes as Former Boss Bamanga Tukur Dies at 90
By prince Benson Davies

The Nigerian Ports Authority has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of its former General Manager and Chief Executive, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Tukur died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the age of 90. He led the Authority from 1975 to 1982, a period regarded as formative in the growth of Nigeria’s ports and trade facilitation architecture.

In a condolence message, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, described the late elder statesman and renowned international businessman as a pillar of trade facilitation whose influence extended far beyond the maritime industry.

Dantsoho, who was in Adamawa State alongside the Executive Governor of the state to receive the remains of the late business icon, said the loss is felt across the nation and within the global trade community.

The NPA Chief Executive conveyed the sympathies of the entire management and workforce of the Authority to the family of the deceased, to the Federal Government and to the people of Adamawa State.

In a statement issued by the General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications of the Authority, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Dantsoho noted that Alhaji Tukur left an indelible mark on the nation’s trade and economic history.

He said the Authority was mourning a leader who dedicated his years in office to strengthening port operations and promoting efficiency in the movement of goods.

According to Dantsoho, the seven-year tenure of Alhaji Tukur at the helm of the NPA formed part of a broader legacy of public service, entrepreneurship and diplomacy that earned him respect in Nigeria and internationally.

The Nigerian Ports Authority stated that his contributions to the development of maritime institutions in Nigeria remain relevant and continue to inspire current leadership and staff of the organisation.

Tukur’s passing at 90 closes a chapter in the history of the NPA, but the Authority said his ideals of service, integrity and commitment to national development will continue to guide its operations.

The Authority prayed for the repose of his soul and asked that God grant his family the strength to bear the loss.