Dantata laid to rest in Madinah
By Jeffrey Agbo
Renowned industrialist and philanthropist, Aminu Dantata, has been buried in Madinah, Saudi Arabia after the Maghrib prayer, with Jana’iza prayers held at the revered Prophet’s Mosque.
Dantata passed away on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, aged 94.
A statement released by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and signed by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, confirmed that the late elder statesman’s remains arrived in Madinah on Tuesday morning. He was accompanied by his son, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata; his nephew, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote; and other close family members.
Representing Nigeria at the solemn occasion was a high-level delegation from the Federal Government, which departed the country late Sunday and arrived in Saudi Arabia early Monday.
The official delegation was led by Minister of Defence and former Jigawa State Governor, Muhammad Abubakar. Other top-ranking officials in the delegation included the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata; and Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Hassan Abdullahi, who represented the NSA.
Distinguished Islamic scholars such as Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, the Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja, also formed part of the delegation.
Senior officials from the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah were on hand, led by Ambassador Ibrahim Moddibbo, along with Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya and Defence Attaché Major General Adamu Hassan, who played a key role in coordinating the funeral logistics.
Numerous dignitaries were present to honour the life and legacy of the late patriarch. These included Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin; former APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf; and Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi.
Dangote led family members and close associates in bidding farewell to Dantata, whose contributions to business, philanthropy, and national development left a lasting impact.
Also in attendance were two royal figures from Kano — Emir Muhammad Sanusi II and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero — symbolising the unity and respect Dantata commanded across diverse circles.
