By Abubakar Ahmadu Maishanu
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje secretly transferred the state’s 20 per cent equity in the Dala Inland Dry Port Nigeria Limited to his children and a close associate before awarding contracts worth more than N4 billion to develop the project, documents and company records have revealed.
The transfer effectively stripped the state of its ownership rights and placed Ganduje’s three children and ally, Abubakar Bawuro, as directors and shareholders of the port, according to filings seen by Premium Times. Shortly afterwards, Ganduje, then governor, approved contracts for works that were originally the state’s responsibility under its equity agreement.
Ganduje, who resigned this year as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), served as Kano governor between 2015 and 2023.
The Kano State government had initially purchased a 20 per cent stake in the Dala Inland Dry Port in 2006 during the administration of Ibrahim Shekarau as part of a federal port development policy. Under that arrangement, private investors were capped at 60 per cent, leaving 20 per cent each for the federal and state governments. At inception, Kano businessman Ahmad Rabiu held 80 per cent, with the state expected to provide roads, power, water, and fencing at the port’s Zawachiki site. Those obligations were not fulfilled by Shekarau or his successor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
By 2019, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council threatened to revoke the concession due to lack of progress, forcing Rabiu to cede 60 per cent of his equity to the Ganduje family, according to insiders.
With his family now in control, Ganduje in July 2020 approved a N2.3 billion contract to FRI Construction Company Ltd to provide infrastructure at the site. The cost later rose to more than N4 billion. FRI subcontracted road construction to Triacta Nigeria Ltd, while it handled fencing, water, power, and warehouses.
Records show that on March 5, 2020, Ganduje’s children – Abdulaziz, Umar, and Muhammad – alongside Bawuro replaced Rabiu’s son and others on the company’s board. Each of Ganduje’s children was allotted five million shares, alongside Rabiu and Bawuro, creating a five-way ownership split. Kano State’s equity was eliminated. Two years later, the children’s shares were transferred to Bawuro, who emerged with 80 per cent control, leaving Rabiu with 20 per cent.
Legal experts say the divestment violated due process. A Kano-based lawyer, Ibrahim Idris, explained that such a transfer required approval from the State Executive Council, sometimes the legislature, and public tendering under securities law. “At no time was this process followed,” he said.
Governor Abba Yusuf has since rejected the ownership change and ordered an investigation. The Director of Investment at the Ministry of Commerce, Bashir Uba, told Premium Times that official records still show Kano State holding its stake and that no adverts for bids were ever issued. He added that the government is instead seeking to expand its equity.
Bawuro, from Adamawa State, is a long-time Ganduje associate and once served as his aide on small and medium enterprises. Insiders allege he controls FRI Construction, the firm awarded the multi-billion naira contract, which operates from a building linked to him in Yola.
Despite the controversy, the Dala Inland Dry Port was commissioned by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2023 and has since commenced operations. Current company records as of September 2025 list Bawuro and Rabiu as shareholders, with Bawuro holding 80 per cent. Directors include Bawuro, Rabiu, former NSC head Hassan Bello, and lawyer Adamu Aliyu-Sanda.
Ganduje and Bawuro did not respond to Premium Times’ requests for comment. Ganduje’s former spokesman, Abba Anwar, also declined to speak on the matter.