Mohammed Umaru Bago

Mohammed Umar (born 22 February 1974) is a Nigerian banker and politician who is the current governor of Niger State since 29 May 2023. He was born in Minna, Niger State, to a Nupe family. He was a member of the House of Representative representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency.

Mohammed Bago emerged as the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Niger State after defeating Isah Liman Kantigi of PDP. Born in 1974, Hon. Umar Bago attended Marafa Primary School, Minna and Federal Government College, Jos. He earned his West Africa School Certificate from the WAEC.

He earned a bachelor's degree in political science at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. Hon. Umaru Bago has obtained several postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees, including a postgraduate diploma in management from the Federal University of Technology Minna in 2001, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in economics at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 2003, and a master’s degree in finance at the University of Calabar in 2005. He is also a distinguished alumnus from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in 2014.

Bago worked with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), First City Monument Bank (FCMB), and Afri-Bank PLC. He served as manager at First City Monument Bank. He officially joined politics in 2007.

He contested for the Speakership position of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, coming second to Femi Gbajabiamila in the 9th National Assembly. He stated, 'I won't back down; I just want to correct the mistake of the party leaders by opinion of zonings.' He chaired the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration.

In 2016, he advised the management of the Maritime Commission that 83 staff should be relieved of their duties, stating, 'That is how touts are employed.' He urged NIMASA to spend money wisely in a well-prepared process.

He won the APC gubernatorial primary elections in Niger State ahead of the 2023 general elections. He became the winner of the gubernatorial election after pulling a total of 469,896 votes to his closest rival, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi, who got 387,476 votes.

Bago is married with children. His mother, Hajiya Aisha Mohammed, died on 1 June 2019 after a brief illness. To improve the educational quality of his constituency, he bought 1000 JAMB forms for his people. He also distributed 11 trailer loads of rice to his constituency as palliative during the COVID-19 pandemic period.