Muhammad Bala Shagari


Muhammad Bala Shagari is a retired military officer and the District Head of Shagari Local Government in Sokoto State. He holds the traditional title of Sarkin Mafara of Shagari.

Background

Shagari is the eldest son of former president Shehu Shagari by his wife Hajiya Amina. He was born in the town of Shagari, Sokoto State in 1949.
He attended the prestigious Barewa College, Zaria and proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1975 where he was a member of the 18th Regular Course. In the aftermath of the December 1983 coup in Nigeria led by General Muhammadu Buhari which removed his father, he was detained briefly and was later forcefully retired from the Nigerian army without offense at the rank of Captain.

Later career

After his retirement from the military in 1984, Muhammad Bala Shagari founded Shag Nigeria Limited, and later founded Hamadah Shipping Services along side Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Sen.Usman Albishir, among others, in 1989. He was chairman of Hamadah Shipping Services for a time.
Prior to the Third Nigerian Republic, he was a member of the constituent assembly representing Yabo constituency, formerly consisting of Yabo, Shagari and Tambuwal Local Governments in 1988. Although, the Third Nigerian Republic never got off the ground due to the annulment of the Nigerian presidential election, 1993.
He was later, appointed as the director of the Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank in 1993.
He was also the chairman of the Sokoto State Rural Electrification Board and Sokoto State Sports Council under the subsequent military government in the State. In 1997, after Shagari became a Local Government, he was appointed as the District Head of Shagari by Sultan Muhammadu Maccido. In 2009, he became a member of the Federal Capital Territory Judicial Service Committee.He is presently a member of the board of trustees of the PZ Cusons Foundation, a member of the Sokoto State Education Trust Fund, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Adubie International Schools.

Personal life

Muhammad Bala Shagari is married with 8 children. Among them is the youth leader Bello Bala Shagari. He is himself the eldest son of President Shehu Shagari.
Mallam Shagari is an enthusiastic polo player and a one time captain of the Zaria Polo Club. He is a winner of the prestigious Georgian Cup. As a sports lover, he also plays fives, and was the president of the Fives Federation in Nigeria.