The burial of renowned Nigerian business mogul Alhaji Aminu Dantata, initially planned for Madinah, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed due to delays in transporting his body from the United Arab Emirates, where he died on Saturday.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, confirmed the development to the BBC on Monday, citing strict Saudi regulations for importing human remains.
“There are regulations set by the Saudi government on how to bring a body for burial in the country, so now the paperwork is being filled out between the Saudi government and the family of the deceased,” Idris said.
He added that while both the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia and Dantata’s family have completed all preparations for the burial, they are still awaiting the body’s arrival before final rites can proceed.
Dantata, a respected elder statesman and one of Nigeria’s most influential industrialists, will be buried according to Islamic customs once the necessary documentation is cleared and transportation is completed.
What you should know
Alhaji Aminu Dantata was a patriarch of Nigeria’s influential Dantata family and a key figure in the country’s industrial development. His burial in Madinah underscores the high regard in which he was held within and beyond Nigeria.
