Fidelis Tapgun
Encyclopedia
Fidelis Naanmiap Tapgun was elected governor of Plateau State
during the Nigerian Third Republic
.
Later he was Nigeria
n Ambassador to Kenya. He was appointed Federal Minister of Industry by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
platform, taking office in January 1992. However, the National elections the next year were aborted by a military coup that led to General Sani Abacha
taking power.
After the return to democracy in 1999, he was appointed Ambassador to Kenya in 2000.
In February 2001, as Permanent Representative of the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Environment Programme, he attended a Commonwealth Consultative Group on Environment in Nairobi.
Tapgun was Director-General of the Obasanjo-Atiku Campaign Organisation between 2002 and 2003, helping ensure that Obasanjo was reelected in the April 2003 elections.
On 14 August 2003 he formally said farewell to Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki
at State House, Nairobi.
President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a six-month state of emergency in Plateau State on 18 May 2004. Tapgun was among elders who argued that the state of emergency should last longer, to give time to restore lasting peace.
In August 2005 he said that the issue of the competitiveness of local products was one of the Federal Government’s major challenges. He announced formation of two new standardization bodies to help improve quality,
In September 2005, speaking at the launch of a N5.6 billion all steel radial truck factory built by Dunlop Plc, Nigeria, he claimed that growth in capacity utilization in the steel industry showed that recent reforms had made Nigeria a more business-friendly environment. The chairman of Dunlop did not agree, but said there was future promise.
In December 2005, Tapgun emphasized the importance of the private sector in developing the country, and said the government would continue to support private-secctor initiatives.
In July 2006, with soaring cement prices due to lack of supply, Tapgun was head of an inter-ministerial committee to assess the investors in the industry.
Fidelis Tapgun visited the site of a closed cement factory in Ebonyi State, stalled due to a dispute between the state government and company management. Despite reassurances that the plant would soon reopen, it was still closed as of November 2009.
In January 2007 Tapgun became a Minister of State in the newly combined Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
In 2009 he visited China as a member of the National Organisation Committee of the first Nigeria - China Trade and Investment Forum, accompanied by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State
and other senior Nigerian officials. The two governments agreed to partner on trade and investment.
In February 2010 Tapgun was appointed co-chairman of a 15-member committee hset up to find an enduring solution to the constant crises in the North Central Nigerian city of Jos, Plateau state.
Plateau State
Plateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part...
during the Nigerian Third Republic
Nigerian Third Republic
The Third Republic was the planned republican government of Nigeria in 1993 which was to be governed by the Third Republican constitution.- Founding :...
.
Later he was Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n Ambassador to Kenya. He was appointed Federal Minister of Industry by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Early career
Tapgun ran successfully for Governor of Plateau State on the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, popularly known as SDP, was a political party created to encompass the ideals of a center left political organization. It was one of the products of a democracy project by former President Ibrahim Babangida to have two detribalized political parties, one a...
platform, taking office in January 1992. However, the National elections the next year were aborted by a military coup that led to General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
taking power.
After the return to democracy in 1999, he was appointed Ambassador to Kenya in 2000.
In February 2001, as Permanent Representative of the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the United Nations Environment Programme, he attended a Commonwealth Consultative Group on Environment in Nairobi.
Tapgun was Director-General of the Obasanjo-Atiku Campaign Organisation between 2002 and 2003, helping ensure that Obasanjo was reelected in the April 2003 elections.
On 14 August 2003 he formally said farewell to Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
at State House, Nairobi.
President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a six-month state of emergency in Plateau State on 18 May 2004. Tapgun was among elders who argued that the state of emergency should last longer, to give time to restore lasting peace.
Minister of Industry
Tapgun was confirmed as Federal Minister of Industry on 7 July 2005.In August 2005 he said that the issue of the competitiveness of local products was one of the Federal Government’s major challenges. He announced formation of two new standardization bodies to help improve quality,
In September 2005, speaking at the launch of a N5.6 billion all steel radial truck factory built by Dunlop Plc, Nigeria, he claimed that growth in capacity utilization in the steel industry showed that recent reforms had made Nigeria a more business-friendly environment. The chairman of Dunlop did not agree, but said there was future promise.
In December 2005, Tapgun emphasized the importance of the private sector in developing the country, and said the government would continue to support private-secctor initiatives.
In July 2006, with soaring cement prices due to lack of supply, Tapgun was head of an inter-ministerial committee to assess the investors in the industry.
Fidelis Tapgun visited the site of a closed cement factory in Ebonyi State, stalled due to a dispute between the state government and company management. Despite reassurances that the plant would soon reopen, it was still closed as of November 2009.
In January 2007 Tapgun became a Minister of State in the newly combined Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Later career
In April 2009, former president Obasanjo unsuccessfully attempted to have Tapgun appointed as secretary of the PDP.In 2009 he visited China as a member of the National Organisation Committee of the first Nigeria - China Trade and Investment Forum, accompanied by Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...
and other senior Nigerian officials. The two governments agreed to partner on trade and investment.
In February 2010 Tapgun was appointed co-chairman of a 15-member committee hset up to find an enduring solution to the constant crises in the North Central Nigerian city of Jos, Plateau state.