Nasir El-Rufai

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai was born on 16 February 1960 to a Fulani family in Daudawa. His father died while he was eight years old, and he was sponsored through his early schooling by an uncle.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3634616.stm |title=Profile: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai |date=7 September 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 May 2010}}

El-Rufai was educated at Barewa College. As a junior at the college, future president, Umaru Yar'Adua, was the house captain of his dormitory.{{cite web |url=http://www.nigeriafirst.org/docs/ministers_profiles.htm |title=Dr (MRS |website=www.nigeriafirst.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060721044351/http://www.nigeriafirst.org/docs/ministers_profiles.htm |archive-date=21 July 2006}} In 1976, he graduated at the top of his class, winning the "Barewa Old Boys' Association Academic Achievement" Trophy.{{cite web |author=Bahaushe Mai Ban Haushi! |url=http://ibrahim-sheme.blogspot.com/2009/06/yaradua-great-expectation-disappointing.html |title=Bahaushe Mai Ban Haushi!: Yar'Adua: Great Expectation, Disappointing Outcome |publisher=Ibrahim-sheme.blogspot.com |date=1 June 2009 |access-date=18 October 2011}} El-Rufai studied at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he received a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying with first class honours.{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nasir-el-rufai/11/369/b |title=Nasir El Rufai |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=18 October 2011}}

In 1984, he received a Master of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University. He has since attended several professional and post-graduate programs, including the Georgetown School of Foreign Service of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and programs on privatization and leadership.{{Cite web |url=http://amsterdamandpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/White-Paper-Reform-vs-Status-Quo.pdf |title=White Paper: Reform vs Status |last=Amsterdam |first=Rober |date=1 December 2009 |website=Amsterdam & Partners}}

In August 2008 he received a law degree from the University of London; and a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University in June 2009. He also received the Kennedy School Certificate in Public Policy and Management having spent 11 months as an Edward A. Mason Fellow in Public Policy and Management from July 2008 to June 2009.

In 2017, he enrolled in for a Doctorate Degree in Governance and Policy Analysis at the United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology in Netherlands.{{cite news |last1=Jannah |first1=Chijioke |title=El-rufai back to school for Ph.D. abroad |url=https://dailypost.ng/2017/03/17/el-rufai-back-school-ph-d-abroad/ |work=Daily Post Nigeria |date=17 March 2017}}

In 1982, he founded El-Rufai & Partners, a quantity surveying consulting firm with three partners, which he managed until 1998.{{Cite web |url=https://erp-dca.com/sustainability/about/ |title=El Rufai and Partners: Design Cost Associates}} During the military juntas of 1983–1998, the firm received building and civil engineering contracts including during the construction of Abuja, making the partners "young millionaires".{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3634616.stm |title=Profile: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai |date=2004-09-07 |access-date=2020-03-22}} In addition to his practice, El-Rufai held management positions with two international telecommunications companies, AT&T Network Systems International BV and Motorola Inc.

After the death of military dictator Sani Abacha, his successor Abdulsalami Abubakar began planning the peaceful transition of power, he set up an advisory policy committee which was referred to then as "the presidents think tank" of technocrats to aid in demilitarising the entrenched public administration following years of military dictatorship in Nigeria. Abubakar appointed El-Rufai as an economic advisor on his team in 1998, he resigned from his private sector positions and spent the next year of the transition working primarily on issues with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other financial institutions overseeing the national privatisation program and electoral finance for the 1999 presidential election. On 29 May 1999, Abubakar transferred power to President Olusegun Obasanjo. In November 1999, Obasanjo appointed El-Rufai as the inaugural director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises,{{Cite web |date=2021-08-28 |title=El-Rufai victim of his own standards — Gerald Ilukwe, Kaduna Chief Information Officer |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/el-rufai-victim-of-his-own-standards-gerald-ilukwe-kaduna-chief-information-officer/ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-US}} and secretary of the National Council of Privatisation where he spear-headed the privatisation of several government owned corporations alongside Vice President Atiku Abubakar.http://en.newspeg.com/Nigeria-El-Rufai-Has-Zero-Tolerance-for-Corruption---Obj-3926799.html {{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In July 2003, he was appointed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. During his tenure, he presided over a radical transformation of the federal capital earlier riddled with corruption and vast deviation from the original masterplan.{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6355269.stm |title=Life of poverty in Abuja's wealth |date=2007-02-13 |access-date=2020-03-22}} With the establishment of the Abuja Geographic Information System, the capital became the first municipality in Nigeria with a computerised land register and information system.{{Cite news |last=Peter-Omale |first=Funmi |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200604110206.html |title=Nigeria: Abuja Land Registry Nets N4bn in 2005 - El Rufai |date=2006-04-11 |work=This Day (Lagos) |access-date=2017-12-20}}

After el-Rufai's appointment was approved by the Nigerian Senate, he accused two senators, Jonathan Zwingina and Ibrahim Mantu (deputy senate president), of asking him for a bribe of $414,000 before his nomination as a minister was approved.{{Cite news |last=Ali |first=Mannir Dan |date=2004-09-07 |title=Profile: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3634616.stm |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Both senators denied the accusation, with Mantu calling him a 'pathological liar'.{{Cite news |date=2003-10-08 |title=Nigerian minister tells of bribe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3173830.stm |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

A year into el-Rufai's tenure, members of the Senate Public Accounts Committee accused him of paying exorbitant salaries to staff without proper approval and demanded that he reimburse the state. In response, el-Rufai retorted: "Silence is the best answer to a fool". This remark angered the Senate, which went on a two-day strike, demanding that the President sack him for his comments.{{Cite news |date=2004-09-09 |title=Minister sorry for 'fools' jibe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3640330.stm |access-date=2024-09-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} President Obasanjo issued an apology on his behalf, but it was swiftly rejected by the Senate. As a result, el-Rufai appeared before the Senate to formally apologise, stating "I did not mean what I said. I certainly did not mean to refer to the senators [as fools]. The statement is inappropriate. I made a mistake and I am sorry."

Along with the President and members of the Economic Management Team, Rufai led the reform of the Nigerian public service which had become dysfunctional during years of military dictatorship.{{cite web |url=http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2009/feb/08/powergame-08-02-2009-004.htm |title=The Sun News On-line | Power Game |website=www.sunnewsonline.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417054150/http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/powergame/2009/feb/08/powergame-08-02-2009-004.htm |archive-date=17 April 2009}} At various times during his tenure as Minister, he oversaw the Federal Ministries of Commerce (twice) and Interior.{{Cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200804160123.html |title=Nigeria: Is El-Rufai Really Guilty? |last=Oota |first=Andrew |date=2008-04-16 |work=Leadership (Abuja) |access-date=2017-12-20}} He also chaired several high-profile cabinet committees that led to the establishment of a mortgage system in Nigeria,{{Cite web |url=http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=3075 |title=independentngonline.com |website=www.independentngonline.com |access-date=2017-12-20}} National ID card system for Nigeria,{{cite web |url=http://www.nigerianmuse.com/20091017150021zg/nigeriawatch/mallam-nasir-el-rufai-s-interview-this-day-october-17-2009 |title=Mallam Nasir el-Rufai | NigerianMuse |date=17 October 2009 |publisher=Nigerianmuse.com |access-date=18 October 2011}} Electric Power Supply Improvement and the sale of Federal Government real estate in Abuja.{{Cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200804110005.html |title=Nigeria: 75,000 Houses Demolished in Abuja Under El-Rufai |last=Ojeifo |first=Sufuyan |date=2008-04-11 |work=This Day (Lagos) |access-date=2017-12-20}}

During the last days of the Obasanjo administration, Nuhu Ribadu, a one-time El-Rufai ally described him as the "de facto No. 2 official",{{cite web |url=http://www.punchontheweb.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art200910170442631 |title=The Punch :: How Obasanjo granted el-Rufai the power to rule Abuja without the FCT ministry – Dr. Layi Ogunbambi |author=Vincent Akanmode |publisher=Punchontheweb.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20111002094126/http://www.punchontheweb.com/Article2Print.aspx?theartic=Art200910170442631 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2011}} tagging him with the role of Vice President, especially after the fall-out between Obasanjo and his vice president Atiku Abubakar. It is believed that Obasanjo's trust and confidence in El-Rufai angered a vast majority of the political class, which would later persecute him.{{cite web |url=http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1664:civil-service-reform-yayale-loses-out-in-power-game&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122001812/http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1664:civil-service-reform-yayale-loses-out-in-power-game&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=67 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2013 |title=Civil Service Reform: Yayale loses out in Power game |date=20 September 2009 |publisher=Elombah.com |access-date=18 October 2011}}{{Cite web |title=DSS Should Invite El-Rufai And Not Mailafia – Reno Omokri |url=https://sellbeta.com/blog/dss-should-invite-el-rufai-and-not-mailafia-reno-omokri/ |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=Sellbeta |date=12 August 2020 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509143750/https://sellbeta.com/blog/dss-should-invite-el-rufai-and-not-mailafia-reno-omokri/ |url-status=dead}}

As FCT Minister, el-Rufai came to be known as "Mr Demolition" for his policy of forced evictions and demolitions of buildings and settlements in the capital city. A report by the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, titled 'Forced Evictions: Violations of Human Rights 2003-2006', claimed that 800,000 people living in informal and unauthorised settlements were displaced in an effort to restore Abuja to its original master plan. The report also stated that at least 49 settlements were targeted for demolition by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) under el-Rufai's leadership.{{Cite web |last=Ezeamalu |first=Ben |date=2 August 2023 |title=The return of Nasir El‑Rufai: Nigeria's 'demolition man' |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/317636/the-return-of-nasir-el-rufai-nigerias-demolition-man/ |website=The Africa Report}}

By the end of el-Rufai's term, the government had demolished 945 buildings in the FCT, around 300 in Kubwa, and 12,000 shanties in squatter settlements across Idu Karmo, Jiwa, Gwarimpa, Jabi, and Anguwan Mada. Notably, one of the demolished buildings was the residence of the PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, in Asokoro, which was removed for being built over a water trunk line. El-Rufai also revoked 1.2 hectares of land in the Central Area owned by late businessman Joseph Igwe, as the land was designated as a green park and church in the FCT master plan.

In 2008, El-Rufai went into self-imposed exile and became a vocal critic of the Umaru Yar'Adua administration.{{cite web |url=http://www.whartonafricaforum.com/2008/speakers.html |title=Speakers |website=www.whartonafricaforum.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101090638/http://www.whartonafricaforum.com/2008/speakers.html |archive-date=1 November 2009}}

In 2010, he returned to Nigeria and was subsequently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He explained his return was in order to clear his name of corruption charges.{{Cite news |last=Camillus Eboh |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/idAFJOE6440CF20100505 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323000140/https://af.reuters.com/article/idAFJOE6440CF20100505 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 March 2020 |title=Nigerian reformer bailed after return from exile |work=AF |access-date=2020-03-22}} In 2011, el-Rufai joined party politics with the Congress for Progressive Change supporting Muhammadu Buhari's campaign in the 2011 presidential election.

In 2013, el-Rufai was appointed deputy national secretary of the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC).{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/139592-masari-el-rufai-others-emerge-apc-interim-national-officers.html |title=Masari, El-Rufai, others emerge APC interim national officers - Premium Times Nigeria |last=Owete |first=Festus |date=2013-06-25 |access-date=2020-03-22}}

In 2014, El-Rufai declared his campaign for Governor of Kaduna State, contesting the APC governorship primaries to emerged as the party's candidate for Governor of Kaduna State.{{Cite news |date=2014-12-05 |title=El-rufai declared Kaduna APC governorship candidate - Premium Times Nigeria |work=Premium Times Nigeria |url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/172496-el-rufai-declared-kaduna-apc-governorship-candidate.html |access-date=2017-12-20}} He went on to win the governorship election, with over one million votes to defeat the incumbent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero the candidate of the People's Democratic Party.{{cite web |title=El-Rufai polled 1,117,635 to defeat incumbent Yero with 485,833 votes – GONGNEWS |url=http://www.gongnews.net/el-rufai-polled-1117635-to-defeat-incumbent-yero-with-485833-votes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020180609/http://www.gongnews.net/el-rufai-polled-1117635-to-defeat-incumbent-yero-with-485833-votes/ |archive-date=20 October 2016 |access-date=2016-10-20}} In 2018, he again emerged as the APC's governorship candidate.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-30 |title=Kaduna 2019: El-Rufai emerges APC governorship candidate |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/287575-kaduna-2019-el-rufai-emerges-apc-governorship-candidate.html |access-date=2020-07-04}} He was re-elected on 9 March 2019, defeating his closest rival by over 200,000 votes.{{cite news |date=11 March 2019 |title=Breaking: INEC declares El-Rufai winner of Kaduna governorship election |work=Oak TV Newstrack |publisher=oak tv |url=https://oak.tv/newstrack/el-rufai-retains-kaduna-governorship-election/ |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311174444/https://oak.tv/newstrack/el-rufai-retains-kaduna-governorship-election/ |url-status=dead}}

On 29 May 2015, El-Rufai was sworn in as the 22nd Governor of Kaduna State.{{cite web |title=Leadership by Example: El-Rufai, Deputy Cut Own Salaries by 50% | |url=http://leadership.ng/news/437086/leadership-by-example-el-rufai-deputy-cut-own-salaries-by-50 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021000728/http://leadership.ng/news/437086/leadership-by-example-el-rufai-deputy-cut-own-salaries-by-50 |archive-date=21 October 2016 |access-date=2016-10-20}} In his inaugural address, he declared that he and his deputy were cutting their allowances by half pending an improvement in the state's fiscal situation.{{Cite news |url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/swearing-in-el-rufai-deputy-cut-own-salaries-by-50/ |title=Democracy Day: El Rufai, deputy, cut own salaries by 50% - Vanguard News |date=2015-05-29 |work=Vanguard News |access-date=2017-12-20}} On 6 August 2015, El-Rufai in one of his first acts as governor announced that Kaduna State will adopt the Treasury Single Account policy by 1 September of the same year.{{cite web |url=http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/7525-governor-el-rufai-orders-closure-of-all-kaduna-states-commercial-bank-accounts |title=Governor El-Rufai orders closure of all Kaduna State's commercial bank accounts |access-date=2016-10-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020181029/http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/7525-governor-el-rufai-orders-closure-of-all-kaduna-states-commercial-bank-accounts |archive-date=20 October 2016}} At the end of the exercise, 470 accounts belonging to different ministries, departments and agencies were closed and a sum of N24.7 billion was recovered and remitted to the Kaduna State Government TSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria.{{Cite web |url=http://kdsg.gov.ng/tsa-is-an-armor-against-waste-and-leakage/ |title=TSA is an armor against waste and leakage – Kaduna State Government |website=kdsg.gov.ng |access-date=2017-12-20 |archive-date=21 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021000834/http://kdsg.gov.ng/tsa-is-an-armor-against-waste-and-leakage/ |url-status=dead}}

By blocking leakages and cutting the cost of running government, it is estimated that the El-Rufai administration was able to save N1.2 billion in just two months.{{Cite news |date=2015-09-06 |title=El-Rufai saved N1.2 billion in two months -Sani - The Nation Nigeria |work=The Nation Nigeria |url=http://thenationonlineng.net/el-rufai-saved-n1-2-billion-in-two-months-sani/ |access-date=2017-12-20}} El-Rufai also reformed the civil service in Kaduna State and reduced the number of ministries from 19 to 13 and the number of permanent secretaries from 35 to 18.{{Cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201508060625.html |title=Nigeria: X-Raying El - Rufai's 60 Days in Office |last=John |first=Gabriel |date=2015-08-06 |work=Daily Independent (Lagos) |access-date=2017-12-20}} In a bid to reduce the cost of governance, El-Rufai appointed only 13 commissioners, 10 special advisers and 12 special assistants as against the 24 commissioners, 41 special advisers and about 400 special assistants appointed by the previous administration.{{Cite web |title=Nasir El-Rufai: What I have achieved as Kaduna State Governor in one month " YNaija |url=https://ynaija.com/nasir-el-rufai-achieved-kaduna-state-governor-one-month/ |date=2015-06-28 |website=YNaija |access-date=2020-05-23}}{{Cite web |last=afronaija |date=2019-01-25 |title=Nasir El-rufai: Reformer in hurry for positive change |url=https://sunnewsonline.com/nasir-el-rufai-reformer-in-hurry-for-positive-change/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=The Sun Nigeria |language=en}}

As governor, El-Rufai has embarked on a comprehensive education reform with the goal of revamping the moribund state of education. El-Rufai sacked over 22,000 unqualified primary teachers.{{Cite web |last=Olawoyin |first=Oladeinde |date=2017-11-12 |title=How El-Rufai can legally sack 22,000 unfit teachers - Lawyer {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/249128-el-rufai-can-legally-sack-22000-unfit-teachers-lawyer.html |access-date=2020-06-30}} El-Rufai's administration launched the School Feeding Programme, aimed at providing one free meal per day to 1.5 million pupils in public primary schools within the state.{{Cite news |last=Nwodo |first=Anike |date=2016-01-18 |title=GOOD NEWS: El-Rufai Launches Free School Feeding Program in Kaduna (Photos) |work=Naija.ng - Nigeria news. |url=https://www.naij.com/699901-photos-governor-el-rufai-launches-school-feeding-programme-kaduna.html |access-date=2017-12-20}}{{Cite web |title=El-Rufa'i's Schools Feeding Programme: A Moment Of Truth By Dr. John Danfulani {{!}} Sahara Reporters |url=https://saharareporters.com/2016/03/16/el-rufais-schools-feeding-programme-moment-truth-dr-john-danfulani |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=saharareporters.com}} He also abolished the collection of fees and levies in public primary and junior secondary schools in Kaduna, thereby removing a financial burden of N3 billion from the parents.{{Cite web |last=Oye |first=Toye |date=2020-01-20 |title=El Rufai Abolishes Payment of Fees in Public Schools |url=https://thepolitico.com.ng/el-rufai-abolishes-payment-of-fees-in-public-schools/ |access-date=2020-06-30 |website=Politico}}

On 28 March 2020, El-Rufai tested positive for COVID-19, following contact with an index case.{{Cite web |title=UPDATED: El-Rufai tests positive for coronavirus |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-el-rufai-tests-positive-for-coronavirus/ |access-date=2020-04-01 |website=Punch Newspapers |date=28 March 2020}} He has placed a curfew in Kaduna State and restricted movement, to prevent the spread of the virus.{{Cite news |date=2020-03-24 |title=El-Rufai announces partial lockdown in Kaduna |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/el-rufai-announces-partial-lockdown-in-kaduna/ |access-date=2020-04-01 |newspaper=The Nation Newspaper}}

On 20 August 2020, Controversy arose on social media when the Nigerian Bar Association invited Governor El-rufai to speak at its annual conference. Thousands of Nigerians signed a petition on change.org to have Governor El-rufai's invitation revoked. The NBA succumbed to the pressure and disinvited the governor.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-20 |title=NBA president speaks on withdraw of El-rufai from conference |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/410063-nba-president-speaks-on-withdrawal-of-el-rufai-from-conference.html}} A report by Open Bar initiative cited eight reasons why El-rufai's invitation to the general conference was turned down.

{{Cite news |url=http://saharareporters.com/2020/08/19/open-bar-initiative-kicks-against-invitation-kaduna-governor-el-rufai-nba-conference |title=Open Bar Initiative Kicks Against Invitation of Kaduna Governor, El-Rufai, to NBA Conference as Speaker | Sahara Reporters}} Some of the reasons include his refusal to obey court orders in his case with Audu Maikori, threatening Gloria Ballason who was Maikori's lawyer and a report by Quartz (publication) Africa which named Governor El-rufai as the head of a "powerful" group of Nigerian governors who "now regularly use security agents to arrest and intimidate journalists who dare to question their actions or attempt to hold them accountable".{{Cite web |date=2019-08-20 |title=Nigeria has been quietly crushing press freedom - but now the world is watching |url=https://www.qz.com/Africa/1764021/Nigeria-under-buhari-has-been-crushing-press-freedomn}}

El Rufai granted pardon to 12 prisoners in Kaduna State, 10 of whom were nearing the end of their sentences, some of the pardons were also granted due to age. Additionally he reduced one prisoners death sentence to life in prison.{{Cite web |url=https://m.guardian.ng/news/gov-el-rufai-grants-pardon-to-12-prisoners-in-kaduna-state |title=Gov. El Rufai grants pardon to 12 prisoners in Kaduna State |date=January 2021}} On 1 August 2023, he was screened by the Senate, following his nomination as minister by President Bola Tinubu.{{Cite web |date=1 August 2023 |title=Senate screens El-Rufai, Umahi, Edun, 12 others today |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2023/08/01/live-senate-screens-umahi-edun-12-others-today/ |access-date=2 August 2023 |website=Channelstv.com}}

On 27 July 2023, president Bola Tinubu nominated El-Rufai and 27 others for ministerial appointment. The list was forwarded to the Nigerian Senate for screening. However, after the overall screening exercise, it was revealed that El-Rufai's confirmation had been withheld due to a negative security report from the country's secret police, the SSS. {{Cite web |title=Inside SSS' Allegations against Nasir El-Rufai |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/615506-exclusive-ministerial-screening-inside-sss-allegations-against-nasir-el-rufai.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Premium Times Nigeria}} El-Rufai was eventually not appointed a minister.{{Cite web |date=11 May 2024 |title=Why Tinubu can't be blamed for El-Rufai not being minister |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/693396-why-tinubu-cant-be-blamed-for-el-rufai-not-being-minister-bagudu.html |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=Premium Times Nigeria}}

In December 2023, El-Rufai co-founded a venture capital firm based in Abuja, FCT with a US$100 million investment commitment to promote the economy of northern Nigeria.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-04 |title=El-Rufai to make venture capital debut in 2024 |url=https://techpoint.africa/2023/12/04/el-rufai-to-launch-venture-capital-fund/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Arewa Tech Fund boosts startups in Northern Nigeria |date=24 September 2024 |url=https://smallbusinessinsights.ng/arewa-tech-fund-boosts-startups-in-northern-nigeria/}}

In March 2024, El-Rufai met with chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), as well as other party leaders causing media speculation that El-Rufai may defect from the APC to the SDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.{{cite web |last=Omolaoye |first=Sodiq |date=28 March 2024 |title=2027: Between El-Rufai's consultations and party faultlines |url=https://guardian.ng/politics/2027-between-el-rufais-consultations-and-party-faultlines/ |work=The Guardian}}

On October 1 2024, El-Rufai announced his intention to return to politics in the next general election in 2027, stating "there is no retirement in politics" in a Hausa-language broadcast on popular northern broadcaster Freedom Radio Nigeria.{{Cite web |last=Isenyo |first=Godwin |date=2024-10-02 |title=No retirement in politics, I'd be back 2027 – El-Rufai |url=https://punchng.com/no-retirement-in-politics-id-be-back-2027-el-rufai/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} This revelation came on the backdrop of a private conversation held in Washington, D.C. at the Council of Foreign Relations on the subject of Nigeria's Political Future with Ebenezer Obadare.{{Cite web |last=El-Rufai |first=Nasir |date=September 12, 2024 |title="THURSDAY UPDATE: We have just arrived at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC for a conversation about Nigeria's Political Future. I am with Hafiz Bayero @HafizBayero, Dr. Linus Anukwu,@linusanukwu and Ibrahim El-Rufai @IbrahimElRufai." |url=https://x.com/elrufai/status/1834256562589696394?s=61 |website=X}}

On 10 March 2025, Nasir El-Rufai announced his defection from the ruling All Progressive Change (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), citing a growing misalignment between his personal values and the current direction of the APC as the primary reason for his decision.{{Cite web |last=Sulaimon |first=Adekunle |date=2025-03-10 |title=El-Rufai dumps APC for SDP |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-el-rufai-dumps-apc-for-sdp/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nigeria |first=Guardian |date=2025-03-11 |title=Opposition camp swells against Tinubu, as el-Rufai dumps APC for SDP |url=https://guardian.ng/politics/opposition-camp-swells-against-tinubu-as-el-rufai-dumps-apc-for-sdp/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News |language=en-US}}

{{BLP sources section|date=April 2021}}

In 2012, El-Rufai threatened anyone who might challenge the Fulani, an ethnic group, even in the line of military duty. "We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan payable one day no matter how long it takes," he tweeted.{{cite tweet |number=224577000218689537 |user=elrufai |title=We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes. |date=15 July 2012}}

In 2019, El-Rufai said, in reference to a conspiracy theory that election observers were meddling in the Nigerian election, that "the person who will come and intervene...will go back in body bags because nobody will come to Nigeria and tell us how to run our country"{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-election/nigeria-leaders-ally-says-foreigners-who-intervene-in-poll-face-body-bags-idUSKCN1PV2MQ |title=Nigeria leader's ally says foreigners who intervene in poll face 'body bags' |newspaper=Reuters|date=6 February 2019}}

In December 2021, International Christian Concern a Christian organisation published a report alleging that El-Rufai punished Christian protestors in Kaduna State.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2021 |title=New Report Exposes Years of Human Rights Abuses by Wealthy Nigerian Governor |url=https://www.persecution.org/2021/12/02/new-report-exposes-human-rights-abuses-by-nigerian-governor/}} The report details two incidents in which El-Rufai responded to protests by putting the protesting community under house arrest. The first of these lockdown orders was in December 2016 in Jema'a Local Government area and the second stretched 72 days starting in June 2020.{{Cite web| title=No Protest Allowed | author=Jay Church | date=December 2011 | url=https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202145428/https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf | archive-date=2021-12-02}}

The report says that eleven villagers were killed in the 2016 lockdown.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2016 |title=Why Buhari hasn't spoken on Kaduna killings— Adeshina |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/buhari-hasnt-spoken-kaduna-killings-adeshina/}} The report lists a number of attacks that happened during the 2020 lockdown and alleges that a total of about 120 villagers were killed at that time.{{Cite web| title=No Protest Allowed | author=Jay Church | date=December 2011 | url=https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf#page=11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202145428/https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf | archive-date=2021-12-02}} The report also states that El-Rufai has punished protestors with these lockdown orders at least six times since the first incident in 2016 and goes on to document El-Rufai's large wealth as evidenced by his and his family's wide international travels, extravagant lifestyle, and the fact that he sends one of his sons to a private boarding school in Canada where tuition runs about $44,000 USD per year.{{Cite web| title=No Protest Allowed | author=Jay Church | date=December 2021 | url=https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf#page=10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202145428/https://www.persecution.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/el-rufai_report.pdf | archive-date=2021-12-02}} The report concludes by calling for international governments to sanction El-Rufai for his actions.

These reports add to concerns by human rights organizations that El-Rufai may not respect the human rights of the people in Kaduna state. In October 2021, he resurrected the Religious Preaching Edict of 1984 to create the Interfaith Preaching Regulatory Council.{{Cite web |title=El-Rufai Inaugurates Council to Regulate Religious Preaching in Kaduna |url=https://closingspaces.org/incident/el-rufai-inaugurates-council-to-regulate-religious-preaching-in-kaduna/}} This state body has the authority to approve or deny religious leaders the right to lead and can disapprove the content of their sermons and messages. "Anyone who begins to preach without authorization, will be liable to pay a fine and may even be imprisoned," El-Rufai said in a radio interview after imposing the new regulation.{{cite web |title=Unauthorized preachers will be liable to pay fine, may be imprisoned ― El-Rufai - Vanguard News |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/unauthorized-preachers-will-be-liable-to-pay-fine-may-be-imprisoned-%E2%80%95-el-rufai/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028172333/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/unauthorized-preachers-will-be-liable-to-pay-fine-may-be-imprisoned-%E2%80%95-el-rufai/ |archive-date=2021-10-28}}

According to one human rights watchdog group, "El-Rufai is pitching this as a measure to reduce religiously fueled violence, [but] he himself has a troubling history of fueling religious tension."{{Cite web |date=4 November 2021 |title=Kaduna State's El-Rufai Clamps Down on Preaching |url=https://www.persecution.org/2021/11/04/kaduna-states-el-rufai-clamps-preaching/}} The watchdog group then cites how El-Rufai claimed, in a tweet posted on 8 September 2014, that Christians were behind Boko Haram, funding and controlling it to tarnish the name of Islam.{{cite tweet |number=508917550747774976 |user=elrufai |title=Those interested in understanding the metamorphosis and variants of Boko Haram will find this compilation helpful. |date=8 September 2014}} Boko Haram is not funded by Christians but is an Islamist terror group with strong ties to Islamic State.

In 2023 Christians in Kaduna expressed outrage when a video emerged of Nasir el-Rufai openly admitting to discriminating against Christians. El-Rufai is seen claiming that "those that are not Muslims don't vote for our party. Most of them. So, why should I give them the deputy position? I did my calculation, and I knew we could win the election without giving them the deputy governor", adding later that "of course, Kubau [a Muslim area] voted for us the most, so I'll add something to Kubau because they voted for us. What I'll give Jaba [a Christian area], I'll increase it for Kubau because Jaba didn't vote for us."

In reaction, representatives from the Catholic Diocesan Priests Association in Kaduna, Nigeria, Zaria and Kafanchan, which are all within the borders of Kaduna state, labelled the comments a "divisive, bigoted, hateful and completely unstatesmanlike declaration of Islamic political supremacism in Kaduna State and Nigeria".{{Cite web |last=ACN |date=2023-06-15 |title=Nigerian Catholics shocked by public admission of religious discrimination in Kaduna |url=https://acninternational.org/admission-of-religious-discrimination-in-kaduna-nigeria/ |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=ACN International |language=en-US}}

El-Rufai is married to three wives. His first wife Hadiza Ismail El-Rufai, is a writer and novelist; she runs the Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation{{Cite web | title=Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation | url=https://yelffoundation.org | access-date=2025-02-12 | website=yelffoundation.org}} (YELF), set up in honour of their daughter who died in 2011.{{Cite news |title=I used to sing in the Catholic Church choir – Hadiza El-Rufai |url=http://punchng.com/i-used-to-sing-in-the-catholic-church-choir-hadiza-el-rufai/ |access-date=2018-01-07 |work=Punch Newspapers}} His son Muhammed Bello El-Rufai is a member of the House of Representatives. He is a Muslim.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AY4OEAAAQBAJ&dq=El-Rufai+%22muslim%22&pg=PA39 | title=The Crisis of Belonging and Ethnographies of Peacebuilding in Kaduna State, Nigeria | isbn=978-1-7936-2848-0 | last1=Maiangwa | first1=Benjamin | date=14 January 2021 | publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing PLC }}

In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-09 |title=FULL LIST: 2022 National Honours Award Recipients The Nation Newspaper |newspaper=The Nation Newspaper |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/full-list-2022-national-honours-award-recipients/ |access-date=2022-10-31 |language=en-US}}

• List of governors of Kaduna State

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930163800/http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=25798 This Day (Lagos) on el-Rufai, 20 August 2005]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3634616.stm BBC on Nasir el-Rufai, 7 September 2004],
• [http://www.nigeriatop.com/ Nigeria Top Politics, /Facts on our politicians] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005160256/http://www.nigeriatop.com/ |date=5 October 2011 }}

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