Sabiu Tunde Yusuf is a Nigerian public official and businessman best known as a nephew of, and personal secretary to, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
His proximity to the Buhari presidency made him one of the more closely scrutinized figures in Nigerian political and business circles during and after Buhari’s time in office, with investigative journalists reporting on both his rapid rise and disputed business dealings.
Profile
| Full Name | Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf |
| Date of Birth | 1985 |
| Age | Approximately 40–41 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Occupation | Public official; former personal secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari; businessman |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Parents | Mother: Hajia Halima (sister of Mamman Daura; died 2018) |
| Net Worth | No officially confirmed figure exists; unverified media estimates have described him as among Nigeria’s wealthiest young men, though specific figures are disputed. |
Early Life
Sabiu Yusuf, popularly known as “Tunde,” was born in 1985 in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria, the hometown of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He is the son of Hajia Halima, the immediate younger sister of Mamman Daura, a nephew of Buhari and one of the most influential figures in his political circle; Hajia Halima died in 2018.
Yusuf received his nickname “Tunde” due to a reported resemblance to the late Babatunde “Tunde” Idiagbon, who served as Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters during Buhari’s military government in the early 1980s.
According to several published profiles, before his political appointment Yusuf worked selling recharge cards for mobile phones in Daura.
Education
Yusuf began his education at Bayajidda Primary School in Daura and continued his secondary education at Teachers College, Daura. He went on to pursue higher education at Bayero University, Kano.
Career
Yusuf was appointed personal secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari, a position that placed him in close daily proximity to the presidency throughout Buhari’s two terms in office (2015–2023).
Multiple Nigerian media outlets reported that his rise to influence was closely tied to his family connection to Mamman Daura, a senior Buhari confidant.
In 2021, investigative reporting indicated that Yusuf had also been appointed an assistant director at Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a move reported as unusual given his lack of prior intelligence or administrative experience; the appointment was reportedly not made public by the Buhari administration at the time.
Investigative journalists reported in 2023 that Yusuf had been posted by the NIA to the United Kingdom following the end of Buhari’s presidency.
Separately, investigative reporting by Sahara Reporters and other outlets alleged that Yusuf had accumulated substantial personal wealth during his time in government, including reported investments in mansions in Abuja, an airline venture (Rano Air), and a fuel retail business (Rano Oil); these reports characterized him as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest young men.
A 2023 report by a presidential investigator into the Central Bank of Nigeria additionally alleged that Yusuf played a role in influencing the 2022 naira redesign policy during a meeting with then-CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele. Yusuf has not been reported to have been formally charged or convicted in connection with these allegations.
Personal Life
Yusuf has kept most details of his personal and family life outside his official role private. Detailed, independently verified information regarding his marital status and children is not publicly available.
Net Worth
No officially confirmed net worth figure exists for Sabiu Tunde Yusuf. Investigative media reports have described him as among Nigeria’s wealthiest young men, citing alleged property holdings and business investments, though these figures have not been independently verified or confirmed through official disclosures.
Political and Business Roles
- Personal Secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023)
- Assistant Director, National Intelligence Agency (reported appointment, 2021)
- Reported business interests, including Rano Air and Rano Oil (per investigative media reporting)
Conclusion
Sabiu Tunde Yusuf’s rise from a modest background in Daura to a position at the center of Nigeria’s presidency has made him a recurring subject of investigative journalism examining influence, wealth, and access within the Buhari administration, though many of the specific allegations surrounding his business dealings remain unconfirmed through official or judicial channels.
