Former Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Ufot Ekaette, has died aged 80.
Ekaette served as principal secretary to former military head of state, Yakubu Gowon.
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His time at the civil service saw him rise to the position of permanent secretary.
He was also the first minister of Niger Delta affairs.
President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement on Thursday from New York where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, expressed shock and grief over the death of the former SGF.
He described Ekaette as “a consummate administrator.”
Buhari also said that Ekaette “dedicated himself to duty in the course of his distinguished public service.”
The president in the condolence statement also extolled the late Ekaette “as a gentleman who had given his best in the service of his country.”
He added that “the late Ekaette would always be remembered not only for his remarkable public service record but also because of his immense contributions towards bringing peace in the once-troubled Niger Delta region.”
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The statement said: “President Buhari, however, assured that ‘his contributions would never be in vain as the country would always appreciate and remember his great contributions.’
“The President prays God Almighty to comfort the Ekaette family, friends, and relations, and grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.”
