Nigeria: Aviation Icon, Alhaji Ahmadu Chanchangi Dies

The Chairman of Chanchangi Airlines, Alhaji Ahmadu Chanchangi, is dead. The Taraba State-born Kaduna-based billionaire died along Kaduna-Abuja Road, on his way to a hospital in Abuja, yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his condolences to the Chanchangi family, describing the aviation icon as a business mogul and one of Nigeria's outstanding philanthropists.

A family source said: "He died along the road, while we were rushing him to a hospital in Abuja, after a protracted illness.

"He will be buried by 2p.m. today (yesterday), according to Islamic rites at the Bashama Road Cemetery," another family source added.

Thousands of Kaduna residents, yesterday, trooped to the cemetery. After he was laid to rest, an aide of the late businessman told journalists that he died on the way to Abuja, where he was being taken to for medical attention.

Though details of the late businessman's sickness were unknown, one of his aides said he suffered a relapse from a pre-existing sickness and had been in coma since last week Friday.