The burial of renowned Nigerian businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has been postponed to Tuesday, July 1, following delays in the arrival of his remains in Saudi Arabia.
Dantata passed away on Saturday, June 28, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was initially scheduled to be buried in Madina, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, June 30. A high-level delegation from Nigeria had already traveled to the holy city for the funeral.
However, on Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, informed BBC Hausa that the burial had been delayed due to the late arrival of the deceased’s body.
“There are regulations set by the Saudi government regarding the transportation of a body into the country for burial,” Idris explained. “The necessary paperwork is currently being processed between the Saudi authorities and the family of the deceased.”
He added that once the documentation is finalized, Dantata’s body will be flown from the UAE to Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia, working closely with the family, has already concluded funeral arrangements and is awaiting the arrival of the remains.
Reports indicate that Alhaji Dantata had requested in his will to be buried in the holy city of Madina—a wish the family has honored with approval from Saudi authorities.
In the meantime, the Kano State Council of Ulama held Salatul Gaib, a funeral prayer in absentia, in honor of the late businessman.
The federal government’s delegation, led by Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar, is currently in Madina to attend the burial. They are joined by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
