Kaduna holds 11.7% equity in DPAN, will back company’s growth — Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has reaffirmed his administration’s support for Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited, citing the state’s equity stake in the company and its role in job creation as key reasons for the commitment.

Uba Sani made the pledge when the management of DPAN paid him a courtesy call, disclosing that Kaduna State holds an 11.7 per cent equity stake in the automobile firm.

“As a government, we will do everything to ensure the success of this very important initiative,” he said, adding that the company currently employs about 1,000 people directly, with several others benefiting from indirect jobs.

The Governor also highlighted Kaduna’s business environment, noting that the state ranked second in Nigeria on the Ease of Doing Business index. He said the state had attracted approximately $3.5 billion in local and foreign investments, of which $743 million had been actualised with $2.76 billion still in the pipeline.

On infrastructure, Uba Sani said Kaduna was constructing what would be Nigeria’s largest ultramodern bus terminal, with two others at various stages of completion. He added that a Bus Rapid Transit system — which would be the second in Nigeria after Lagos — would be flagged off within two months.

DPAN Managing Director Ibrahim Issa Gachi used the visit to appeal to the Governor to prioritise locally assembled DPAN vehicles in Kaduna’s official fleet and advocate for their adoption across other state governments.

Gachi also announced plans to expand the company’s portfolio in 2027 with the introduction of Citroën, Fiat, and Leapmotor brands, covering saloon cars, SUVs, mass transit buses, and micromobility options. The lineup will feature petrol, diesel, CNG, fully electric, and Range-Extended Electric Vehicle powertrains.

He invited the Governor to formally unveil the 2026 Peugeot models at the company’s facility within the next four weeks.