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| President Ahmed Bola Tinubu |
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Senator Basheer Lado Garba Mohammed, his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), on attaining the age of 60. In a statement released on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Lado as a dependable public servant and accomplished legislator whose career has strengthened democratic governance and improved the lives of ordinary Nigerians. statehouse.gov.ng
The birthday falls on Friday, October 16. Tinubu’s message goes beyond routine protocol. It highlights Lado’s trajectory from private businessman to senator, federal commissioner, agency head, and now presidential liaison—roles that illustrate continuity in public service across administrations.
From Kano Roots to the National Stage
Born on October 16, 1966, in Nasarawa, Kano State, Basheer Lado attended Bayero University, Kano, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He built a successful career in banking, property, and trading before entering elective politics. Colleagues and observers have long described him as soft-spoken yet disciplined, with a practical approach that prioritizes results over rhetoric. en.wikipedia.org
In the April 2011 elections, running on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, Lado won the Kano Central Senatorial District seat. He polled 359,050 votes, defeating Aminu Abba Ibrahim of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Alhaji Bello Isa Bayero of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He represented the district—comprising 15 local government areas—in the 7th National Assembly from 2011 to 2015. In the Senate he served as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Works. en.wikipedia.org
His legislative record stood out for delivery. Reports indicate he facilitated more than 100 constituency projects with a high completion rate. Two flagship efforts remain especially remembered in Kano: the N2.5 billion Kundila Bridge (popularly called Gadar Lado or Gadan Lado by residents) and the N14.5 billion dualization of the 171 km Kano-Katsina road.
The Kundila flyover eased chronic traffic congestion in a densely populated commercial area and became a local landmark associated with his tenure. Lado himself has referred to it as one of his legacy projects.
He lost his re-election bid in 2015 to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He later joined the APC, a move that reflected shifting political calculations in Kano and positioned him within the broader progressive fold that eventually produced the current administration.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Refugees, Migrants, and Anti-Trafficking Work
After leaving the Senate, Lado continued in public service under President Muhammadu Buhari. He served as Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). In May 2021 he was appointed Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), a position he held briefly before a subsequent change in leadership.
In these roles he worked on the welfare and rehabilitation of displaced persons and on confronting human trafficking—challenges that remain acute in Nigeria given insecurity in parts of the North-East and other regions, as well as the country’s status as a source, transit, and destination for trafficking. Tinubu specifically noted these contributions in his birthday message, stating that Lado “helped protect vulnerable Nigerians, confronting human trafficking and advancing the welfare and rehabilitation of displaced persons.”
Philanthropy Through the Ladon Alheri Foundation
Parallel to his official duties, Lado established the Ladon Alheri Foundation. The organization has supported education, healthcare (including eye surgeries), women’s economic empowerment, rural water supply through boreholes, and assistance to disadvantaged communities. These interventions address practical gaps that government programs alone often struggle to fill at the grassroots. Tinubu highlighted the foundation’s work as further evidence of Lado’s humanitarian commitment. en.wikipedia.org
Current Role: Bridging the Executive and the Senate
In the Tinubu administration, Lado serves as Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate). The position requires steady engagement with lawmakers to advance the executive’s legislative priorities while maintaining cordial relations between the two arms of government. Tinubu credited Lado’s prior experience in lawmaking and public administration with fostering these relations and supporting the “Renewed Hope” agenda.
In a country where executive-legislative friction has historically slowed policy implementation, such liaison roles carry practical weight. Lado’s background as a former senator gives him institutional knowledge and personal networks that can facilitate dialogue.
Continuity and Quiet Competence
Tinubu’s tribute frames Lado’s career as one of consistent impact across different capacities: “In the several capacities he has found himself, Senator Lado has been very impactful.” The President commended his “commitment to public service, loyalty to our Renewed Hope administration and invaluable contributions to strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria,” and wished him “good health, wisdom and strength as he continues to serve our nation.” statehouse.gov.ng
At 60, Lado represents a generation of Nigerian politicians who moved between business, elective office, and appointed roles while maintaining a focus on tangible constituency benefits and social interventions. His path—from Kano Central’s representative to presidential adviser—also mirrors broader shifts in Nigerian party politics over the past decade and a half.
The birthday message arrives at a moment when the Tinubu administration continues to navigate economic reforms, security challenges, and the need for legislative cooperation. Recognizing aides who facilitate that cooperation underscores the value placed on institutional bridge-building.
Senator Basheer Lado’s record of constituency projects, humanitarian work, and current liaison duties offers a concrete example of sustained public engagement. As he marks this milestone, the President’s words serve both as personal congratulations and as an affirmation of the kind of dependable service the administration seeks to cultivate.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Politics and Technology.
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