From Roads To Private Jets: Aminu Dantata’s remarkable journey
Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a towering figure both in stature, age, and the immense wealth he had accumulated, shared an intriguing story in an interview with Daily Trust about how he acquired his first private jet.
During the interview, he recounted the motivation behind his decision to purchase a private aircraft.
He explained that the primary reason was to access remote areas with inadequate air transportation or proper road infrastructure.
He went on to reveal that he acquired his first aircraft at the close of 1966, just before the outbreak of the civil war.
Dantata recalled a pivotal moment when he received a request from the president of Niger, he said, “Before the Sardauna was killed, the president of Niger, at one time came to complain. He told Sardauna that they had a factory in Niger Republic, in a town called Malbaza, but they were not able to sell the cement. So Sardauna said, ‘Aminu you should go and see if you can help them.’ And I said we could it.”
According to Dantata, he did not yet own his own aircraft, so he embarked on a road trip to Niger Republic with a delegation from the country.
They managed to establish contact with the company, and negotiations ensued. Eventually, they successfully secured an agreement for the purchase of all the products.
However, their success stirred controversy in the business community of Niger Republic.
Locals protested the sale of their own produce to foreigners when they had their own citizens to cater to.
Dantata, upon returning, shared these events with Sardauna.
