November 19, (THEWILL) – While Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man has put up his Bombardier Global Express private jet for sale, perhaps looking to replace it with an upgraded version, another billionaire not only keeps his own but also has a helicopter that functions alongside his jet.
What’s more, he is the only Nigerian billionaire who prefers to fly his own chopper himself. He is Sayyu Dantata and his ironically, Dangote’s cousin.
Dantata, the founder of MRS Holdings Company Limited, one of Nigeria’s largest marketers of refined petroleum products, such as marine fuel and aviation fuel, operates his chopper within the Lagos metropolis, majorly to beat the perennial traffic situation. The chopper also comes handy each time he wants to visit his warehouses in Apapa from his Victoria Island office.
As soon as he disembarks from his jet at the Lagos airport, the chopper is always on standby waiting. His pilots know when to keep the engine running and then step back for him to take over the chooper, which he flies effortlessly. Just like he took lessons to become a professional at the game of Polo, so did he take the necessary lessons and certification that qualifies him to fly an helicopter.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
