Governor Bago, Beji mourn as NPC chair Aminu Yusuf dies

The chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Aminu Yusuf, has passed away.

His death was confirmed to Blueprint by a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Barrister Tanko Benji.

“Aminu is dead; I am saddened and, therefore, not in a good mood now,” he said.

Yusuf died on Friday and the sad news was broken in Minna at about the time for Friday prayers.

In his reaction, the Niger state governor, farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, condoled with the family of the deceased, describing his demise as “shocking and a colossal loss” to the state and the nation.

Governor Bago, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim, said further that Yusuf’s vast experience, competence, and commitment to public service “will greatly be missed at a crucial time when his services are needed to undertake the long awaited national census.”

“Nigeria has indeed lost an icon whose wealth of knowledge in demographic research, data management, and policy implementation would have been applied for better national planning and development,” he said.

He also extended his condolences to the deceased’s family and encouraged them to remain strong “even in the face of this trying time of losing a dedicated family man full of compassion and down to earth.”

Governor Bago prayed that Almighty Allah “forgive his shortcomings, illuminate, and widen his grave, and grant him entry into Aljannat Firdaus.”

The deceased was appointed last year by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the recommendation of the farmer-governor.

He was confirmed by the Senate in October 2025, before assuming office in December 2025.

The late Yusuf who also held the traditional title of Talban Wushishi upon assumption of office had plans to conduct a credible, technology-driven national population and housing census.