Dala Inland Dry Port Denies Ganduje Family Ownership Claims
The management of Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited has responded to recent investigative reports alleging that former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his family secretly acquired ownership of the port. The company firmly rejects the claims and insists that it has operated transparently since its acquisition by its current owners in 2020.
🔍 What the Allegations Say
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Investigative reports, notably from Premium Times, allege that Ganduje’s children, along with a close associate, were listed in 2020 as shareholders and directors of the port. These reports claim that the state’s 20% equity stake, acquired by Kano State under earlier administrations, was quietly transferred to private hands.
It is further alleged that after that shift, Ganduje (while governor) approved contracts worth over ₦4 billion for infrastructure works at the port — works which the state had originally agreed to deliver as part of its equity contribution.
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Reports claim that by 2022, new Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) filings showed Ganduje’s children had been removed as shareholders, with ownership reflecting now Abubakar Bawuro (80%) and Ahmad Rabiu (20%) as the main shareholders.
🛡 Port Management’s Counter-Claims
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The port’s management says that Kano State never owned equity in the port before the 2020 acquisition, contrary to the allegations. They state that their own records — including CAC searches — do not list the State Government or members of Ganduje’s family as shareholders or directors.
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They allege that documents suggesting Ganduje’s children had been shareholders were forged by Ahmad Rabiu, the founder and former Managing Director of the port.
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They further assert that Acquisition in 2020 by City Green Enterprises (CGE) was legitimate, and that they carried out due diligence at CAC and found no trace of Kano State being a shareholder. According to port management, Kano State’s contribution under Ganduje’s administration to the port was a form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) — not an equity stake. The State, they say, never initiated any formal divestment process of its 20% equity because it had never held such equity.
⚖ State Government’s View & Anti-Corruption Probe
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The current Kano State government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has rejected the ownership changes made during Ganduje’s administration. They maintain that the state still officially holds its 20% equity.
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The Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has also launched an investigation into alleged diversion of state funds (over ₦4 billion) into Dala Port and related contracts. The focus includes whether infrastructure contracts were awarded after the State lost ownership or equity, according to the allegations.
🧭 What to Look Out For
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Verification of the so-called “forged” documents: whether there is forensic or legal backing to port management’s claims.
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Results of the anti-corruption probe — especially findings from PCACC regarding the contracts and equity transfers.
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Examination of CAC filings (shareholder records) over time, to see when and how ownership changed (if it did).
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Clarity on what role, if any, Kano State played in infrastructure delivery or financing for the port under its supposed equity agreement.
✅ Conclusion
The ownership of Dala Inland Dry Port is now a contested story — between allegations that a former governor’s family acquired state equity quietly, and port management’s denials that state or family had any stake or director role. With investigations ongoing, public records and legal findings will be key to understanding the truth.
👉 For full investigative updates, corporate filings, and expert commentary, read more on my blog.
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