Hamza Abdullahi

Air Vice Marshal Hamza Abdullahi (2 March 1945 – 3 January 2019) was a Nigerian statesman and air vice marshal who served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 1986 to 1989; Minister of Works and Housing from 1985 to 1986; and as military Governor of Kano from 1984 to 1985.[1]

Air Vice Marshal

Hamza Abdullahi
Minister of Federal Capital Territory
In office
1986–1989
Preceded byMamman Jiya Vatsa
Succeeded byGado Nasko
Minister of Works and Housing
In office
12 September 1985 – 1986
Governor of Kano State
In office
4 January 1984 – 26 August 1985
Preceded bySabo Bakin Zuwo
Succeeded byAhmed Muhammad Daku
Personal details
Born(1945-03-02)2 March 1945
Hadejia, Northern Region, British Nigeria
(now Hadejia, Nigeria)
Died3 January 2019(2019-01-03) (aged 73)
Wiesbaden, Germany
Political partynone (military)
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Air Force
Years of service1964–1988
RankAir Vice Marshal
Battles/warsNigerian Civil War

Early life and Air Force career

Hamza Abdullahi was born in Hadejia, Jigawa State. He joined the Nigeria Air Force in 1964, and attended Nigeria Air Force Tactical Training Wing in Kaduna. He completed the Aircraft Technical Officer's Course in West Germany (1964–1966), and studied at the Royal Military Training Centre in Chichester, England in 1974.[2]

In July 1975, Lt. Colonel Hamza Abdullahi was air provost marshal and participated in the 1975 Nigerian coup d'état, which brought General Murtala Mohammed to power.[3]

Governor of Kano

Hamza Abdullahi was appointed the Governor of Kano State in January 1984, he announced in January 1985 that his government was revitalizing the Expanded Program on Immunization, targeting children and pregnant women at risk from preventable diseases.[4]

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

In September 1985, he was appointed minister of works and housing. In this role he oversaw the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano dual carriage road. In 1986, Hamza was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory by General Ibrahim Babangida.

Districts

As Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 1986 to 1989, Hamza oversaw the construction of Phase 1 of Abuja.[5] The modernisation of Abuja was also during his time; as Maitama, Asokoro and Jabi districts were built. 

Seat of government

The Aso Rock Presidential Villa, was conceived by Hamza. His goal was to have 75% of the ministries in Abuja by 1990, the target date for the official relocation of the capital from Lagos. He described Abuja as "a symbol of our unity".[6]

National monuments

The city gate was also constructed during his time; also the military barracks built by the Babangida administration was one of the ideas of Hamza Abdullahi – and they are world standard barracks.[7]

Retirement and later life

Hamza was promoted air vice-marshal in October 1988 and retired from the Nigerian Air Force two months later.[2] He became a very close friend and associate of General Ibrahim Babangida – and a director at Julius Berger, a German construction and engineering company; and Dantata & Sawoe - a Nigerian-German construction company.

Hamza was widely respected for his military professionalism and disciplinary pedigree.[8]

Death

He died on 3 January 2019, in a German hospital after a protracted illness.[9]

References
  1. Max Siollun. "Babangida: His Life And Times (Part 4 )". Gamji. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  2. Kazeem Akintunde and Kunle Binuyo (1 March 2009). "In the News". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  3. Nowa Omoigui. "Military Rebellion of July 29, 1975: The coup against Gowon - Part 8". Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  4. "Kano Allocates Money" (PDF). Enugu Daily Star. 18 January 1985. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  5. Andy Ekugo (2004-05-08). "My Mission in Abuja - el-Rufai". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 2005-09-13. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  6. JAMES BROOKE (June 25, 1987). "ABUJA JOURNAL; A 'BIG BORE,' A LA BRASILIA, IN THE MIDDLE OF NIGERIA". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  7. Ibrahim, Tijjani; Kano (2019-01-19). "AVM Hamza Abdullahi (1945-2019)". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  8. Ibrahim, Tijjani; Kano (2019-01-19). "AVM Hamza Abdullahi (1945-2019)". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  9. Published. "Late AVM Hamza Abdullahi buried in Kano". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2020-02-11.


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