FG Delegation, Dangote, and Dantata Family Attend Burial of Alhaji Aminu Dantata in Madinah

The remains of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata, renowned Nigerian business icon and elder statesman, were laid to rest at the historic Al-Baqi Cemetery in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, following Jana’iza prayers after Maghrib at the Prophet’s Mosque.

Alhaji Aminu Dantata passed away on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, at the age of 94. Honoring his wishes, he was buried in the Islamic holy city of Madinah, a place of immense spiritual significance.

A high-profile delegation from the Federal Government of Nigeria attended the solemn occasion. The delegation, led by the Minister of Defence and former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, departed Nigeria late Sunday and arrived in Madinah on Monday. Other key members included the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata; and Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Prominent Islamic clerics accompanied the delegation, including Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, Imam of the Dantata Mosque in Abuja. Officials from the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, led by Ambassador Ibrahim Moddibbo, also played a key role in coordinating funeral arrangements.

Among the family members present were Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, the son of the deceased, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the celebrated business magnate and nephew of the late Alhaji Aminu Dantata. They arrived in Madinah on Tuesday morning with the body, accompanied by other close relatives.

The burial ceremony was further graced by the presence of Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, immediate past APC Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Governors of Kano and Jigawa States, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and Alhaji Umar Namadi, respectively. Traditional rulers, including the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, and Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, also paid their respects.

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Alhaji Aminu Dantata was widely respected for his contributions to Nigeria’s business landscape and his philanthropic efforts. His burial in Madinah marks the end of an era for a family that has played a significant role in the country’s economic and social development.

This report is based on official statements from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and verified sources from the Nigerian Consulate in Saudi Arabia.