Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- Alex Akinyele, a former Nigerian information minister and sports manager, has died.

Mr Akinyele passed on between late Thursday night and early Friday morning, the Nigerian Tribune reported one of his sons, Akinfolarin, as announcing in a statement. He was 81.

Details of Mr Akinyele's cause of death were not immediately disclosed, but it was believed to have occurred in his home Ondo State.

A spokesperson for the state government did not immediately return requests seeking comments.

Mr Akinyele served as information minister under Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria's military ruler between 1985 and 1993.

It was also during Mr Babangida's tenure that Mr Akinyele led the Nigerian Sports Commission.

Mr Akinyele, whose fathe...