The Chairman of the National Population Commission, Dr Aminu Yusuf, has reportedly died in Abuja following a brief illness, less than one year after assuming leadership of the Commission.
Yusuf was said to have died on Friday at Nizamiya Hospital in Abuja shortly after the Jummah prayer.
A source within the National Population Commission said the chairman had fallen ill about five days earlier while preparing for a trip to Rwanda and was subsequently receiving medical attention.
According to the source, Yusuf had been battling what was described as diabetes-related complications before his death. The account of the precise medical cause of death had, however, not been officially confirmed by the Commission or his family as of the time of the report.
The source further disclosed that Yusuf had reportedly collapsed on several occasions both at his office and during public engagements before his final illness.
One such incident occurred on March 13, 2026, when he collapsed during a press briefing and the official launch of the APLS 13 Report.
During the event, Yusuf was reportedly seen experiencing difficulty breathing and remained seated as medical doctors present intervened to stabilise him. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for further medical attention.
No further details were immediately available on the circumstances surrounding his death on Friday.
His remains were said to have been transported from Abuja to Minna, Niger State, for burial later in the evening in accordance with Islamic rites.
Yusuf was appointed Chairman of the National Population Commission by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 and was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.
He was formally sworn in by President Tinubu on December 3, 2025, alongside two other members of the NPC board and thereafter assumed office as chairman of the Commission.
At the time of his swearing-in, the State House described him as 65 years old.
Yusuf held a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also obtained a doctorate in International Relations from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
As chairman, Yusuf was expected to oversee the Commission’s population-related programmes and preparations connected with Nigeria’s demographic data and national population management.
As chairman, Yusuf was expected to oversee the Commission’s population-related programmes and preparations connected with Nigeria’s demographic data and national population management.
As of the time of filing the report, the National Population Commission had yet to issue a formal public statement confirming his death or providing official details of the circumstances surrounding it.