Saudi Arabian authorities have approved the burial of prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Aminu Dantata, in the holy city of Medina.

Meanwhile, the government and people of Kogi State have expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the renowned business mogul and elder statesman, describing his death as a monumental loss to Nigeria.

Also, Arewa leaders, under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), have expressed shock at the death of Dantata on June 28, 2025, at the age of 94, as they mourn him.

According to a statement by Dantata’s Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Junaid, the burial is scheduled to take place today. Junaid confirmed the development in a post on his official Facebook page yesterday.

The statement reads, “I have received approval to take Aminu Alhassan Dantata from Abu Dhabi to Madina; he will be buried tomorrow morning by the grace of Allah.”

The bereaved family disclosed that he would be buried in Medina next to his wife, Rabi’a, who died in 2023, following his final wishes. A special Islamic funeral prayer, SalatulGa’ib, was held in Kano on Saturday in honour of the late business mogul,

In an official condolence message issued on behalf of the government and people of Kogi, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the late Dantata was “not just a successful businessman, but an institution whose name symbolised integrity, generosity and an unwavering commitment to national progress.”

The statement noted that Governor Ahmed Ododo received the news of Dantata’s death with a heavy heart, and extended sincere condolences to the Dantata family, the government and people of Kano State, the business community, and the nation at large.

Same way, the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Prof Tukur Muhammad-Baba, stated, yesterday, that the forum received the news of Dantata’s passing with shock.

While eulogising the late business magnate, the statement pointed out that “‘Aminu Dogo”, a term of endearment reflecting his iconic tall stature, was easily one of Arewa’s finest elders and accomplished statesmen with a long history of achievements of national and international reputation.

Muhammad-Baba added, “Of the many roles he had played, he was a business mogul, scholar, philanthropist, public servant and community leader. Aminu served as pioneer Commissioner of Economic Planning and Development (1967-1976) in the newly created Kano State (incorporating the present-day Jigawa), a member of the Northern House of Assembly (representing Kano Province), the 1979 Constitution Drafting Committee, a politician, to list a few of his notable public service outings, apart from his many achievements in the private sector.”

“He was a scion of the equally reputational, well-established high achieving and uniquely accomplished merchant family from Kano; a direct descendent of the late Alhassan Dantata’s iconic family, easily Kano’s (and Nigeria’s) hugely wealthy class’ known business pioneering milestones.”