Who is Abbas Balarabe? – Here are seven things to know about the man replacing Nasir El-Rufai

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday nominated Abbas Balarabe as a ministerial replacement for the former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

El-Rufai’s name was missing from the list of the ministerial nominees confirmed by the Senate leaving Kaduna as the only state without a ministerial nominee in the new cabinet.

However, Tinubu conveyed the replacement in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at the plenary on Tuesday.

Here are seven things to know about Balarabe

1. Abbas Lawal Balarabe who was born on February 5, 1958 (65 years), hails from Kachia Local Government, Kaduna State.

2. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1978-1981).  He also holds an M.Sc in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1984-1986).

3. Between 2015 and 2023, Balarabe served as Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna under Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.

4. Between September 1999 and February 2001, he worked as a Special Assistant to the Federal Minister of Education in Abuja. Between February 2001 and May 2003, he worked as a Special Assistant to the Minister of State (Army) at the Ministry of Defence.

5. Balarabe then worked as a Special Assistant to the President in the Federal Capital Territory and as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, among other positions held, from July 2003 until July 2007.

6. Balarabe is into real estate and property management as he is the current Managing Director of Rightedge Property Nigeria Limited, Abuja (October 2008 to date).

7. Balarabe is active in agricultural activities like poultry, livestock, and crop production in Zaria Metropolis.