Eric Patrick
A Nigerian billionaire, industrialist, and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata has died at the age of 94.
The news of his passing was disclosed in a post by Deputy National Treasurer of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Uba Tanko Mijinyawa on Saturday.
“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,” Mijinyawa wrote in Hausa.
The message, translated, reads: “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.”
Dantata, who was widely respected for his contributions to commerce and philanthropy, was also an uncle to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
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Dantata, who was the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd., also played a key role in the establishment of Nigeria’s first non-interest (Islamic) bank, Jaiz Bank.
His Principal Private Secretary, Mustapha Abdullahi Junaid, also confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday morning, adding that funeral arrangements (Janazah) will be made public in due course.
Junaid wrote, “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. 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.”