Renowned Business Tycoon Aminu Dantata Dies at 94

Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, has died at the age of 94.

The news of Dantata’s passing was made public on Saturday through a social media post by Uba Tanko Mijinyawa, Deputy National Treasurer of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

Writing in Hausa, Tanko announced, “Inna Lillahi wa’inna ilaihi Raji’un. Allah ya yi wa babanmu Dattijo, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, rasuwa. Muna addu’a Allah ya jikan sa, ya gafarta masa. Za a sanar da lokacin jana’izarsa,” which translates to, “Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. May Allah have mercy on our father and elder, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata. We pray for his forgiveness. The time of his funeral will be announced.”

His Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, also confirmed the development in a statement on Saturday morning. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our beloved father, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata. May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaus and forgive his shortcomings. The Janazah details will be shared later, Insha Allah,” Junaid stated.

Dantata, founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd., was widely respected for his business acumen and extensive philanthropy. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Nigeria’s first non-interest financial institution, Jaiz Bank.

He is survived by a large family and is notably an uncle to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

Arrangements for his funeral prayers (Janazah) will be communicated in due course.