Mustapha Bello
| Mustafa Bello | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Commerce | |
|
In office June 1999 – 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Major-General Patrick Aziza |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 31, 1954 Niger State, Nigeria |
| Political party | PDP |
Mustafa Bello (born 31 January 1954) was appointed Nigerian Minister of Commerce in the first cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo, holding office between June 1999 and 2002. He became head of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) in December 2003.
He is a cousin to the Nigerian billionaire retired army officer colonel Sani Bello. Colonel Bello is being credited for sponsoring Mustafa through school and also giving huge financial support that made it possible for him to become a minister in 1999. Bello obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria through scholarship by the then North Western State Before entering politics he held various positions including Chairman of the Niger State Housing Corporation Board, Managing Director of Prime Pipes and Plastics and Chairman of Musty Digital Systems. He was appointed Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) in July 1997, and was Senatorial Candidate for Niger North Senatorial District in 1998 during the planned transition to civilian rule under General Sani Abacha, later transferring to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
Bello was Minister of Commerce from 1999 until he resigned in 2002. In August 2001 he said that Nigeria's huge gas resources would last for about 50 years, and could supply the continent once planned pipelines had been constructed. In March 2002 Bello urged GSM operators and other telecommunications service providers to reduce their tariffs and provide quality services for their customers. In June 2002 the Niger State government accused Bello and Information Minister Jerry Gana of being behind the June 4 attack on Governor Abdulkadir Kure. Both men denied the allegations.
Bello resigned from the government, and in December 2002 became the candidate of the newly registered People's Redemption Party (PRP) for governor of Niger State. He said he had left the People's Democratic Party (PDP) because it had been hijacked by the administration of Governor Abdulkadir Kure for selfish reasons. He came in second after Kure, who was reelected.
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