Dantata, one of Nigeria’s most prominent industrialists and philanthropists, died in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday at the age of 94.

A Nigerian Government delegation has arrived in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, to receive the remains of late business mogul and elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, ahead of his burial in the Islamic holy city.

Dantata, one of Nigeria’s most prominent industrialists and philanthropists, died in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday at the age of 94.

The high-level delegation, which departed Nigeria on Sunday night, touched down in Madinah in the early hours of Monday, June 30, 2025, Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Leading the delegation is the Minister of Defence and former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

Other members include the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.

Also accompanying the delegation are prominent Islamic scholars and religious leaders, including Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, and Khalifa Abdullahi Muhammad, the Imam of Dantata Mosque in Abuja.

The delegation was received by officials of the Nigerian Consulate General in Jeddah, led by Ambassador Muazzam Ibrahim Nayaya, who has been overseeing funeral preparations in collaboration with Saudi authorities.

The funeral of the late statesman is scheduled to take place later on Monday in accordance with Islamic rites.

Dantata had expressed a lifelong wish to be buried in Medina, one of Islam’s holiest cities.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially granted permission for his burial in Medina, fulfilling this spiritual and personal request.

His Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Junaid, and his relative Sanusi Dantata confirmed the approval via social media. Junaid stated, “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.”

-He is to be buried next to his wife, Rabi’a Dantata, who passed away in 2023, in Medina.

The Janazah (Islamic funeral prayer) was scheduled to take place at Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, on Sunday, June 29.

Initially, there were plans to return his body to Kano, Nigeria, if approval from Saudi authorities was delayed. However, once approval was granted, arrangements were made to transport his remains from Abu Dhabi to Medina.