Shettima Attends Burial of Ex-Finance Minister Alhaji

Vice President Kashim Shettima led mourners at the Janai’za (funeral rites) for former Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, who died at the age of 88 after a brief illness. Alhaji had a distinguished career, serving as Minister of National Planning and later Finance during General Ibrahim Babangida's military administration.

He also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom until 1996, beginning his public service in 1964 as an Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance and later becoming Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Trade. Upon his arrival in Sokoto, Shettima visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, to offer condolences and prayers for the deceased.

Shettima described Alhaji as a significant figure in Nigeria's institutional memory and stated that the federal government would take steps to immortalize him. The vice president prayed for the deceased's eternal rest and offered condolences to his family.