Buhari’s former Spokesman, Maida dies at 70

The chairman of the Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and former spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari as a military Head of States, Malam Wada Maida is dead.

Malam Lawal Sale Maida, a member of his family, who confirmed this to the NAN, said that Maida died in Abuja on Monday. He was aged 70.

Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, was one of the pioneer editors of the agency and served at various times as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor and London correspondent.

He had returned to NAN after serving as the chief press secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari as military Head of State in 1985 to become its Editor-in-Chief for eight years.

Maida, from Katsina State, was appointed NAN Managing Director in 1994 and served in that capacity for nine years before he bowed out in 2003.

Until his death, Maida was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.

He was also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited, publishers of the Trust titles, and also the Chairman of Daily Trust Foundation, an arm of Media Trust which engages in humanitarian services.

The funeral prayers for the deceased would be held today at the Area 1 Mosque in Abuja and the burial will be at Gudu cemetery.

NAN Acting Managing Director, Mr Dele Ojo, while reacting to Maida’s death, described the news as “shocking and devastating”.

“It is difficult to believe this news. It is very devastating. God knows best,” Ojo said in a telephone interview.