Breaking News: President Jonathan appoint Bamanga Tukur as chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation.

The immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Mr. Tukur’s appointment as Railway Corporation, NRC, chairman was announced in a statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sam Nwaobasi. As you know that President Jonathan is currently away in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum. The position of NRC chairman was formerly held by Kawu Baraje, the former factional chairman of the PDP who has since led his faction to fuse into the All Progressives Congress. Mr. Baraje resigned in the height of the PDP crisis last year 2013. Where were the youth of Nigeria? chairman of Nigeria railway at the age of 79 only time will tell. Brief History about him Bamanga tukur (CON) (born September 15, 1935) is a prominent Nigerian businessman and politician who served as Minister for Industries in the administration of General Sani Abacha during the 1990s. He is one of the high profile civil servants and military officers who acquired large areas of farmland along the various River Basin authorities. He is currently as of 2012 the president of the Africa Business Roundtable. Since March 2012, Tukur has been National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Bamanga Tukur is a resident of Adamawa State and was once the governor of the old Gongola State, which encompassed Adamawa and Taraba States but has never attended a university. He was also a former member of the board of Trustees of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He came to national attention in the mid-1970s, as the general manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority, it was a time the agency was having problems with congestion as a result of a massive cement importation scheme that was started at the twilight of Yakubu Gowons administration. During his tenure, the government built a few more seaports to ease the transaction cost associated with shipping and to ensure adequate facilities for Nigeria's import and export needs. In 1982, he left his position as general manager and soon contested the Gongola gubernatorial race, which he won. Tukur served as governor for three months before the democratic administration was curtailed by a military coup. After leaving the Gongola State House, he entered full scale entrepreneurship, and was the founder and chairman of BHI holdings (DADDO group of companies). In 1992, he was an unsuccessful presidential candidate for the National Republican Convention, during which he and a few rivals of Adamu Ciroma lobbied for the cancellation of the first primary due to allegations of favouritism levelled against the leadership of the party. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur serves as the Chair of NEPAD Business Group and Executive President of African Business Roundtable (ABR). From 1975 to 1982, Dr. Tukur served as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Ports Authority. In 1983, he was elected civilian Governor of Gongola State (now Adamawa State). From 1993 to 1995, he served as a member of the Federal Executive Council and Minister of Industry of Nigeria. He is Honorary Life President of the west and central Africa Ports Management Association, and a member of various Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria. He is a member of the UNIDO International Business Advisory Council, the Ghana Investors Advisory Council and the OECD Africa Investment Advisory Board. He was elected Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in March 2002. Dr. Tukur serves as Chairman of Advisory Board at Africa investor Ltd. and also serves as Chairman of the Board at African Investment Advisory. Dr. Tukur was awarded the Doctorate Degree of Law (Honoris Causa) by Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria and is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria. He also has an M.Sc from the University of Pittsburg He was awarded the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Mono (COM), and the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in recognition of his contribution to business in Africa. He holds the traditional title of Tafidan Adamawa and Wakilin Ganye in Adamawa State. With the support of President Goodluck Jonathan, Tukur was elected as National Chairman of the PDP, Nigeria's governing party, in March 2012.