Esther Salifu
The late Nigerian business magnate and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, was buried in the holy city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, June 30, 2025.
His interment followed the granting of approval by Saudi authorities, honoring his longstanding wish to be laid to rest beside his late wife, Rabi’a Dantata, who passed away in 2023.
A high-level Nigerian delegation, led by Minister of Defence Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, arrived in Madinah to attend the funeral. The delegation included Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of State for Housing Honourable Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, and prominent Islamic clerics such as Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja .
Upon arrival, the delegation was received by officials of the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, led by Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya, who had been coordinating funeral arrangements with Saudi authorities.
Alhaji Aminu Dantata, who passed away in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the age of 94, was a prominent figure in Nigerian business and philanthropy. He was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and a key organizer of Jaiz Bank in Nigeria. His contributions to education and support for small-scale entrepreneurs in Kano through the Kano State Foundation are part of his enduring legacy.
The Janazah (funeral prayer) was held at Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, in accordance with Islamic rites. A special Islamic funeral prayer, Salatul Ga’ib, was also held in Kano on Saturday, June 29, 2025, attended by a large number of mourners, including prominent figures such as Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf were among the dignitaries who mourned his passing, acknowledging his significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic development and philanthropy.
Alhaji Aminu Dantata is survived by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, generosity, and unwavering commitment to national progress.
