Access to Buhari Was Restricted, Says Ex-Minister Dalung

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has revealed that even close associates of the late President, Muhammadu Buhari, sometimes struggled to gain access to him while he was in office.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Dalung reflected on his time in the Buhari administration, suggesting that internal dynamics and restricted access may have influenced decision-making processes within the government.

He recounted a personal experience to illustrate his point. “I usually saw him around midnight,” Dalung said. “On one occasion, I went to his residence on Aso Drive at about 12 midnight, but I was denied entry.”

According to the former minister, the incident marked a noticeable shift in accessibility, even for individuals who previously had direct contact with the president.

Dalung alleged that certain gatekeepers within the system increasingly controlled who could meet the president and when.

He noted that such restrictions may have created communication gaps and limited the flow of information to the president.

His remarks add to long-standing public concerns over the role of unelected aides and members of the should inner circle during the Buhari administration.

Critics have often argued that limited access to the president may have affected governance and slowed decision-making at the time.