05/07/2025
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai – A Brief History
Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is a prominent Nigerian politician, public servant, and technocrat. He's known for his bold, sometimes controversial reforms and his role in reshaping parts of Nigeria's public sector.
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Early Life and Education
Born: February 16, 1960
State of Origin: Kaduna State (Fulani by ethnicity)
Religion: Islam
Education:
Attended Barewa College, Zaria (same college as several Northern elites, including former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua).
Studied Quantity Surveying at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School in the U.S.
Attended several professional and leadership courses at global institutions including the London Business School and the University of Pretoria.
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Career Before Politics
El-Rufai started as a successful entrepreneur and consultant. He co-founded El-Rufai & Partners, a quantity surveying firm. He gained international experience working with the World Bank, IMF, and various other international organizations.
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Political Career
1. Director General of BPE (1999–2003)
Appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Led the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
Played a major role in privatizing public corporations during the early 2000s.
Advocated for transparency and deregulation.
2. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja (2003–2007)
Known for restructuring Abuja’s city planning.
Demolished many illegal structures in the capital, drawing both praise and criticism.
Reclaimed green areas and removed encroachments.
Accused of being high-handed but also praised for enforcing order and modern planning.
3. Governor of Kaduna State (2015–2023)
Elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
Re-elected in 2019.
Focused on education reform, infrastructure, and security.
Introduced controversial policies like:
Mass sack of teachers after competency tests.
School restructuring and free education policies.
Creation of Kaduna State Vigilante Service to fight insecurity.
Faced multiple criticisms over his handling of ethno-religious crises and alleged marginalization of Christian communities in Southern Kaduna.
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Post-Governorship
After leaving office in May 2023, he was nominated for a ministerial position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but was later dropped.
Allegations of corruption and security-related concerns were cited, though never formally proven.
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Controversies
Known for being blunt, which has drawn media and public backlash.
Accused of authoritarian leadership.
Frequently engaged in verbal battles on social media, especially Twitter.
His tenure in Kaduna is considered divisive, with strong supporters and strong critics.
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Personal Life
Married with children.
His son, Bello El-Rufai, is a member of the House of Representatives.
El-Rufai is considered an intellectual, often referencing books, policy papers, and global best practices.
