A recent report alleges that Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, former APC national chairman and ex-governor of Kano State (2015-2023), covertly transferred the state’s 20% equity in the Dala Inland Dry Port Limited to his children and a close associate before approving a N4 billion infrastructure contract for the project.
Ganduje, now chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, reportedly reassigned the state’s stake to his children—Abdulaziz, Umar, and Muhammad Ganduje—and associate Abubakar Bawuro. On March 5, 2020, company records show they replaced previous directors, each receiving 20% of the shares, effectively removing Kano State’s ownership.
Kano State originally acquired its 20% stake in 2006 under former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, with businessman Ahmad Rabiu holding 80%. On July 7, 2020, shortly after the Nigerian Shippers’ Council urged Kano to fund port infrastructure, Ganduje awarded a N2.3 billion contract to FRI Construction Company Limited, later increased to over N4 billion, despite the state’s prior equity obligations.
In 2022, Corporate Affairs Commission filings revealed that Ganduje’s children transferred their shares to Bawuro, who now holds 80%, with Rabiu retaining 20%.
The current Kano administration under Governor Abba Yusuf disputes the ownership changes. Bashir Uba, Director of Investment at the Ministry of Commerce, stated, “The state never initiated any divestment process,” asserting that official records still recognize Kano as a shareholder.
