Dala Inland Dry Port denies links to Ganduje family
Former APC National Chairman and ex-Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has become the subject of a new corruption probe by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, over an alleged diversion of N4 billion intended for state equity in the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) project.
Meanwhile, the management of DIDP has strongly denied reports claiming that members of the Ganduje family own shares in the company, describing such allegations as false and malicious.
According to reports, the N4 billion approved under Ganduje’s administration was supposed to fund infrastructure for the port project. However, insiders allege that the funds—representing 20 per cent of the Kano State government’s equity—were diverted to private individuals on Ganduje’s instructions, effectively excluding the state from ownership of the multi-million-naira venture.
A reliable source said, “The equity transfer removed Kano State as a co-owner and positioned Ganduje’s children as directors and shareholders at the time the contract was awarded.”
Investigators at the anti-graft agency confirmed that a formal probe into the alleged diversion has commenced following multiple petitions received by the commission.
In a statement, DIDP’s Company Secretary, Adamu Sanda, said that official records from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and company board documents show no Ganduje family member has ever been a shareholder, director, or signatory to the firm.
“This claim is baseless,” Sanda stated. “You cannot remove an entity that was never part of the company. The circulation of this story appears to be a coordinated attempt to tarnish Ganduje’s image and mislead the public.”
DIDP explained that the company was initially founded by Ahmad Rabi’u and partners, who later brought in City Green Enterprises (CGE) as an investor. Rabi’u eventually sold 80 per cent of the shares to CGE while retaining 20 per cent, with no involvement from either the Kano government or the Ganduje family.
The management further clarified that the state government did not hold any ownership stake, but only supported the project by providing infrastructure through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative facilitated by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
DIDP reaffirmed its commitment to transparent operations, urging the public to disregard the misleading reports linking it or the Ganduje family to corruption claims.
