The minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the death of the chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Aminu Yusuf, as a painful loss to Nigeria.

The minister expressed shock and sadness in a statement issued by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Friday in Abuja.

“I received with deep sadness the heartbreaking news of the passing of Dr Aminu Yusuf.

“His death is a painful loss to the National Population Commission, the public service and the entire nation,” the minister said.

Mr Idris described the late NPC chairman as a close associate and a committed public servant whose dedication to national development was evident during his brief tenure at the commission.

He said Yusuf had set out with a clear vision to deliver a credible, technology-driven Population and Housing Census that would provide reliable data for national planning.

According to him, this was also central to Mr Yusuf’s agenda upon assuming office.

“His plans and commitment to delivering a credible and technology-driven census showed his deep sense of responsibility and his determination to leave a lasting contribution to Nigeria’s development,” he explained.

Mr Idris commiserated with the Government and people of Niger State and the people of Wushishi, where the deceased held the revered traditional title of Talban Wushishi.

The minister also extended his condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and staff of the NPC, praying that Allah would grant them the strength to bear the loss.

He prayed that Allah would forgive the deceased’s shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and comfort all those mourning his passing.

Mr Yusuf was sworn in as the eighth substantive chairman of the commission by President Bola Tinubu on December 3, 2025.