President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Hassan Lawal, as a personal loss to him.
His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, spoke yesterday in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, at Lawal’s burial.
He said: “To President Buhari, this is a deep personal loss. It is the loss of a very strong pillar in his politics in Nasarawa State and the entire North Central.
“The deceased made enormous sacrifice for the development of the country. The president prays that Allah will accept his soul and forgive his sins.”
Governor Tanko Al-Makura said Lawal’s death was a great loss to the state and Nigeria at large.
He said: “Today is a day of grief to the people of Nasarawa State, for the loss of one of our illustrious sons, Dr. Hassan Lawal, who was a critical stakeholder and one of our prominent representatives at the national level.
“This loss is irreplaceable but our consolation is that he lived a worthwhile life.”
The deceased was appointed Minister of Labour and Productivity in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was returned by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2017.
He was later appointed as Minister of Works and Housing in 2008 by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A family source, who pleaded for anonymity, said Hassan died about 8.30pm on Saturday at a Turkish Hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness.
His remains will be buried today at the Kofar Hausa Cemetery, Keffi, Nasarawa State, by 2pm.
Dignitaries who attended the burial include Ibrahim Mantu; Gen. Aliyu Gusau; Senator Abdullahi Adamu; Gen. Abdullahi Aboki; Abdulmumuni Jibrin; Jonathan Gaza, among others.