Chanchangi Airline founder dies at 80

Capt Ore, others pay tribute
One of Nigeria’s wealthiest airline owners, Alhaji Ahmadu Chanchangi is dead. He was 80 years old.
He was chairman of Chanchangi Airlines, one of the domestic airlines that dominated the Nigerian aviation industry and was reputed to be the biggest airline in the late 2000.
The Taraba-born, Kaduna based billionaire died along Kaduna-Abuja road while on his way to a hospital in Abuja this morning.
The late businessman was said to have suffered a relapse from an old ailment which left him in near coma since Friday but that it was when the sickness showed no sign of abating that it was decided that he should be taken to a medical facility in Abuja.
A former Commercial Manager for the airline and one of the closest to the business mogul, Alhaji Mohammed Tukur told Woleshadare.net from Kaduna where Chanchangi’s body was interred said he died along the road while they were taking him to a hospital in Abuja after he took ill.
Chachangi
He is believed to be survived by three wives and about 33 children, among whom is Rufai Chanchangi, a member of the House of Representative.
Tukur, who was also a former Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said he was buried around 1.35 pm according to Islamic right at the Bashama road cemetery.
Among early sympathisers at the Chanchangi home was the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El Rufai, some members of the National Assembly including the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah.
Na’Allah, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, described the late Chanchangi as a man of peace and a shining example of a devout Muslim.
“His contribution to the development of the aviation sector, more especially in the North, will remain indelible,” he said.
He prayed to Allah to grant him eternal rest and the family, people of Taraba and Kaduna states, the fortitude to bear the loss.
Aviation consultant, Capt. Dele Ore said Chanchangi paid his dues in the area of road transportation transportation before he came into aviation. He developed the aviation industry. The industry will miss him for his great contribution to aviation.
Tukur described the late business mogul as a great philanthropist who contributed immensely to humanity, a detribalised, describing the crowd that visited his interment as a reflection of his kindness to humanity.
His words, “Alh Ahmadu chanchangi was a great man. Nobody has seen the type of crowd that witnessed his burial. Am one of the closest staff and trusted staff, he gave me his money, children, his wife. He confided in me and has so much trust in me. He trusted me so much. He was a giver, de tribalised and made friends across the country. He was in haulage business before he ventured into airline where he made his name.
“He took me like my son. I look up to him as a father and provided for us. He gave me money to save for myself saying if he dies, I won’t be able to inherit any of his property. He touched lives. He provided free 200 tickets for me to give to whoever he wants me to give to. Every end of the year he gave N700 million for charity.”
Chanchangi Airline was established on January 5, 1994 by and started flight operations to and from Kaduna, Lagos, Owerri Abuja and Port-Harcourt using B727-200, three B727-200 and two B737-300 aircraft.
 
In 2004, it obtained route authorities for services to Abidjan, Accra, Dakar, Douala and Malabo. The late Chanchangi owned 94 per cent stake in the airline while four other individuals held a 1 per cent stake each.  It had 780 employees as at March 2007).
Wole Shadare