Dala Inland Dry Port refutes report on ownership, denies Ganduje family involvement

The management of Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP) has dismissed a recent report by an online newspaper alleging that members of the family of former Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, have ownership stakes in the company.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and obtained by PlatinumPost, the company described the report as misleading and the result of a campaign by a former Managing Director allegedly responsible for “unprecedented losses” who now “refuses accountability.”

“The attention of Dala Inland Dry Port has been drawn to a recent article published by Premium Times regarding the ownership and operations of our concession.

“As a federally approved project operating under the supervision of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and relevant regulatory bodies, we wish to assure our stakeholders, partners, and the general public that our company has at all times conducted its affairs transparently,” the statement read.

The company said the allegations do not reflect its ownership structure or governance framework.

“The allegations contained in the report are misleading and do not reflect the true ownership, structure, or governance of Dala Inland Dry Port. The equity contributions of stakeholders are clearly documented, duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and subject to routine oversight,” it stated.

DIDP reaffirmed its commitment to its mandate of serving as a modern trade gateway for importers and exporters while maintaining transparency and accountability.

Presenting what it described as “facts to dismiss the allegations,” the company said: “In view of recent falsehoods, deliberate misrepresentations, and malicious campaigns aimed at discrediting the Dala Inland Dry Port (DIDP), City Green Enterprises (CGE), and the current leadership, it has become necessary to present the facts as supported by documents, board resolutions, and records duly filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).”

According to DIDP, the former Managing Director, Mr. Ahmad Rabiu, initiated the transaction that brought CGE into the company.

“It was Mr. Ahmad Rabiu, then Managing Director of DIDP, who invited City Green Enterprises (CGE) to invest in DIDP.
“By his own decision, he offered 100% of DIDP’s shares for sale.
“To effect this, Mr. Rabiu obtained resignation letters from all other directors (including his son), transferred his son’s shares to himself, and filed these changes at CAC. He thereby positioned himself as the sole owner of DIDP at the point of sale.”

The company explained that CGE subsequently purchased 80% of the shares, while Mr. Rabiu retained 20%, which he has yet to fully pay for.

“At no time were the Kano State Government (KNSG) or any member of the Ganduje family listed as shareholders or directors in DIDP. CAC records confirm this position unequivocally,” it said, emphasizing that no entity can be divested from shares it never legally held.

DIDP added that following the restructuring, Mr. Adamu Aliyu Sanda was appointed a director in 2021, and Mr. Hassan Bello joined the board in 2023, with both appointments duly filed and approved by CAC.

The company noted that at the time, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) was considering revoking DIDP’s concession due to inactivity and mismanagement. However, CGE’s investment restored confidence and saved the project.

“Consequently, NSC wrote to KNSG, requesting it to provide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support to DIDP—not equity, not ownership, but CSR,” the statement added.

While saying the Kano government  responded with CSR contributions that aided the port’s development for the benefit of the state, the company accused the former MD of mismanagement, citing financial records.

“The audited financial report as at December 2024 revealed a cumulative loss of ₦748,799,327 (Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira) over Mr. Rabiu’s five-year stewardship.

“Despite this record of consistent failure, Rabiu sought to retain the Managing Director position for life, disregarding the company’s condition and his advanced age of 70 years.”

The statement said the board removed him following a review of the company’s finances and appointed a new Acting Chief Operating Officer in August 2025.

“For the first time in DIDP’s history, overhead expenses and salaries were funded entirely from internally generated revenue, demonstrating a sustainable turnaround.

“Rather than accept the Board’s lawful decision, Rabiu has embarked on a campaign of lies, distortions, and propaganda,” it added.

DIDP clarified that the Kano State Government’s CSR support was never an ownership investment but a contribution toward economic growth, logistics development, and job creation.

“Today, the majority of DIDP staff are indigenes of Kano State, and the positive ripple effects of the reforms are already strengthening the local economy,” the statement said.

The company further presented key facts supported by CAC filings, board resolutions, and official documents: “Mr. Rabiu voluntarily sold DIDP to CGE after consolidating ownership into his own hands.
“CGE revived and developed DIDP, saving it from concession revocation.
“KNSG’s role was CSR support—not shareholding, not directorship.
The Board lawfully removed Rabiu for gross mismanagement and to safeguard DIDP’s future.”