An Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Mr Peter Onwubuariri, has died in Kano after a protracted illness. He was 48.

Onwubuariri, a veteran journalist and former staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), died on Monday evening, his wife, Mrs Catherine Ezinna Onwubuariri, confirmed.
He reportedly died after receiving treatment for about a month at the Kano Cancer Hospital under the state government’s treatment authorisation.

The remains of the deceased were released on Tuesday by the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for onward transportation to Owerri, Imo State, where he is expected to be buried.

The remains were formally handed over to Mr Oche Echeija Egwa, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, on behalf of the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

The handover was conducted by the spokesperson to Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, alongside the Chairman of the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sulaiman Dederi.

Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf has expressed condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Presidential Media Unit over Onwubuariri’s death.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the governor described the deceased as a thoroughbred professional who contributed immensely to the reputation management of the Presidency over the years.

Yusuf commiserated with Onwubuariri’s family, colleagues and associates, praying for the repose of his soul and asking God to grant his family the strength to bear the loss.