Lagos | June 2025 —
The family of late Nigerian business mogul, Alhaji Aliyu Dantata, has commenced arrangements to have his remains transported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for burial, in line with Islamic traditions and what they described as the deceased’s personal wish.
In a brief statement issued by the family spokesperson on Monday, the decision to inter the late patriarch in Saudi Arabia was attributed to his long-standing spiritual connection to the Holy Land, where he performed numerous pilgrimages and invested in Islamic education and humanitarian causes.
“It was Baba’s earnest desire to be laid to rest in the blessed soil of Saudi Arabia. As a devout Muslim, he considered the land sacred and had expressed this wish to us repeatedly,” the family said.
Preparations for the international transfer are already underway, with family members liaising with the appropriate authorities in Nigeria and the Saudi Arabian consulate to ensure a smooth and dignified process.
Alhaji Dantata, a revered industrialist and philanthropist, passed away earlier this week at the age of 89. Tributes have continued to pour in from across Nigeria’s political, religious, and business communities, praising his legacy of humility, generosity, and nation-building.
A final prayer session will be held in Kano before his body is flown out, family sources disclosed.