Assistant Director of Media at the Presidential Villa, Peter Onwubuariri, has died in Kano after a prolonged illness.

Onwubuariri, a veteran journalist and staff member of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, died on Monday at the age of 48, according to his wife, Catherine Ezinna Onwubuariri.

He reportedly died after receiving treatment for about a month at the Kano Cancer Hospital under the state government’s treatment authorisation.

His remains were released from the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Tuesday for burial in Owerri, Imo State.

The remains were handed over to the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, State House, Oche Egwa, on behalf of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The handover was conducted at the hospital by Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa, spokesperson to Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over Onwubuariri’s death, describing it as a painful loss to the Presidency, NAN, the media community and the nation.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Onanuga, Tinubu commended the deceased for his dedication, professionalism and commitment to duty.

Onwubuariri, a former North American correspondent of NAN, was posted to the Presidential Villa in 2014 and subsequently served in the media teams of three successive administrations led by Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Tinubu.

The President said the deceased covered critical national and international issues, including foreign affairs, telecommunications, politics and finance.

“Peter was a dedicated journalist and a committed public servant whose professionalism and calm disposition earned him the respect of his colleagues and associates. His years of service to three administrations are a testament to his competence, integrity and commitment to duty.

“His passing is a great loss to the Presidential Villa, the media fraternity and Nigeria. He will be remembered for his diligence, his wealth of experience and his contributions to journalism and national service,” Tinubu said.

The President extended his condolences to Onwubuariri’s wife, his three children, extended family, colleagues and friends.

He prayed that God would grant the family strength to bear the loss and grant the deceased eternal rest.

Onwubuariri rose through the ranks at NAN before his posting to the Presidential Villa, where he served as an Assistant Editor-in-Chief and contributed to the agency’s journalism and editorial operations.