President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Major General Abdullahi Mohammed (Rtd.), a former Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Born in 1939, the retired general passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 November 2025, at the age of 86.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the late General Mohammed as “a disciplined, loyal, and patriotic officer whose remarkable service to the nation spanned decades, marked by distinguished contributions to Nigeria’s stability and governance.”
The President said the passing of the elder statesman was a profound loss to the country, noting that his uncommon sense of duty, humility, and integrity left an enduring legacy on Nigeria’s public institutions and those who had the privilege of working with him.
“He was a man of exemplary character, who combined the precision of a soldier with the prudence of a statesman. His years in the State House were marked by humility, efficiency, and unwavering commitment to the Nigerian project,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu extended his condolences to the family of the late General, the government and people of Kwara State, the Nigerian Armed Forces, and all who mourn the passing of what he called a “distinguished son of Nigeria.”
Major General Abdullahi Mohammed was widely regarded as one of the key figures in shaping Nigeria’s modern security framework. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the National Security Organisation (NSO), which later evolved into the State Security Service (SSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
A seasoned military officer and administrator, he also served as Governor of the defunct Benue-Plateau State from July 1975 to February 1976, where he earned a reputation for discipline and reform-oriented leadership.
He later became Director-General of the National Security Organisation (1976–1979), National Security Adviser to General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1998–1999), and Chief of Staff to Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (1999–2007) and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (2007–2008).
An indigene of Ilorin, Kwara State, General Mohammed will be remembered for his professionalism, humility, and unwavering dedication to national unity and progress virtues that defined his decades of public service.
