Chairman, Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Wada Maida has died at the age of 70.

A family member of the deceased, Malam Lawal Sale Maida, who made the confirmation of the death of the deceased to newsmen, said that Maida died in Abuja yesterday.

Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, who was one of the pioneer editors of the agency, served severally as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor, and London Correspondent. He was also the Chief Press Secretary to Muhammadu Buhari when he became military Head of State in December 1983 and returned to NAN in 1985 to become its Editor-in-Chief for eight years.

The chairman of NAN hailed from Katsina State and was appointed NAN Managing Director in 1994 when he spent nine years of service in that capacity before he retired from the position in 2003. Until his demise, he was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.

NAN Acting Managing Director, Mr. Dele Ojo, in reaction to Maida’s death, described the news as “shocking and devastating” as he said:

“It is difficult to believe this news. It is very devastating. God knows best.”