Stephen Akiga

Stephen Ibn Akiga
Minister of Industry
In office
2000 – 30 January 2001
Preceded byIyorchia Ayu
Succeeded byMagaji Muhammed
Minister of Police Affairs
In office
9 February 2001 – May 2002
Preceded byDavid Jemibewon
Minister of Sports
In office
May 2002 – May 2003
Preceded byIshaya Mark Aku
Succeeded byMusa Mohammed
Personal details
Died6 September 2004(2004-09-06) (aged 61–62)
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)

Stephen Ibn Akiga (or Steve Akiga) (died 6 September 2004) was Nigerian Minister of Industry, then Minister of Police Affairs and finally Minister of Sports in the first cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo dismissed his cabinet on 30 January 2001. On 9 February Stephen Akiga moved from the Ministry of Industry to Police Affairs.[1] In May 2001 Akiga said the police could soon phase out use of sub-machine guns in an effort to stop cases of accidental discharge of bullets.[2]

In May 2002 Akiga was appointed Minister of Sports to replace Ishaya Mark Aku, who had died in a plane crash.[3] In August 2002 Akiga admitted that Nigeria was having difficulty in preparing to host the 2003 Africa Games, but said that a bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games was planned.[4] In January 2003 Akiga announced that Nigeria had formed a committee to organize the bid for the 2010 soccer World Cup.[5] In May 2003, during the delay before Obasanjo named his new cabinet following the elections, there were reports that workers in the Sports Ministry had embarked on "serious fasting and prayer" to ensure that God did not return Akiga to them.[6]

Death

[edit]

Akiga died on 6 September 2004.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Ministers Get Portfolios". Panafrican News Agency. 9 February 2001. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  2. ^ Sam Olukoya (11 May 2001). "Nigeria's trigger happy police". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  3. ^ "Associations, others mourn late Nigerian sports Minister". PANA. May 6, 2002. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  4. ^ "Nigeria plans 2012 Olympic bid". BBC Sport. 20 August 2002. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  5. ^ Eniwoke Ibagere (11 January 2003). "Nigeria picks 2010 bid team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  6. ^ Patrick Omorodion (May 27, 2003). "Sports Ministry Staff Go Fasting And Praying". Vanguard. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
  7. ^ Olatunbosun Sowemimo (January 5, 2005). "Events 2004: PASSAGES". Newswatch. Retrieved 2010-05-03.