Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai is a prominent and often controversial Nigerian politician, technocrat, and quantity surveyor. Born in 1960, he is renowned for his intellectual prowess and a no-nonsense approach to governance.
His public service career began as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), where he championed the privatization of numerous state-owned enterprises.
He gained significant national prominence as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from 2003 to 2007 under President Olusegun Obasanjo. During this period, he embarked on a radical urban renewal program, enforcing Abuja’s master plan and demolishing illegal structures, a move that earned him both praise and criticism.
From 2015 to 2023, El-Rufai served two terms as the Governor of Kaduna State.
His administration initiated wide-ranging reforms in education (including the controversial mass sacking of unqualified teachers), healthcare, and infrastructure, notably the Kaduna Urban Renewal Programme.
He also implemented the Treasury Single Account and established a digital land registry. Known for his outspoken nature and firm stance on policies, El-Rufai remains a significant and influential voice in Nigerian politics, recently shifting his political allegiance to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).