Musa Aliyu Aliyu

Aliyu Modibbo Umar (born 15 November 1958) is a Nigerian technocrat who currently serves as the Special Adviser on General Duties to the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima. He previously held positions as Minister of State for Power and Steel, Minister of Commerce, and Minister for the FCT (Federal Capital Territory, Abuja).

Aliyu Modibbo Umar was born in Gombe State, Nigeria, of Kumo origin, on 15 November 1958. He earned a BA in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach; an MA in African Studies; and a PhD in Comparative Education, both from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

His professional journey began in 1979 as a reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority. Between 1986 and 1992, he worked in the United States before returning to Nigeria in 1993 to become a lecturer at the University of Abuja. He later transitioned into civilian administration, working in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President.

During the Obasanjo presidency, Aliyu Modibbo Umar served as Minister of State for Power and Steel from January to May 2003. In March 2003, he highlighted efforts to spend N2.2 billion on rural electrification projects in Gombe State, attributing power outages to sabotage. He also introduced decisions to ban imports of certain goods like toothpicks, bottled water, biscuits, spaghetti, and noodles during a FEC meeting. In May 2003, he became Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Ltd. (PAN), resolving industrial crises and relaunching the company’s operations within 90 days. Under his leadership, PAN became the first Nigerian manufacturer to export Peugeot cars to other African countries. He also championed the use of Peugeot 307 cars in Abuja’s taxi scheme and Rivers State’s taxi fleet, as well as the introduction of a Consumer Car Finance Scheme benefiting 15,000 military, paramilitary, and police personnel.