Transparency on the Agenda: Group Challenges Zamfara Government to Reveal Federal Allocation and IGR Figures within a Year

By: Nwakaji Martins

The Zamfara Initiative for Good Governance has issued a critical assessment of Governor Dauda Lawal’s first year in office, urging transparency in the management of federal allocations and internally generated revenue during this period.
Chairman Lawal Usman Mohammed, in a recent statement, highlighted the government’s failure to deliver on its campaign promises in crucial areas such as security, healthcare, agriculture, education, and empowerment of women and youth. He condemned the governor’s leadership style as a “trial-and-error” approach that has led to suffering and squandering of resources.

Mohammed pointed out Governor Lawal’s unmet commitment to tackling insecurity within the first 100 days of his administration. “A year later, Zamfara State is besieged by armed bandits who regularly terrorize the 14 Local Government Areas, including the state capital of Gusau,” he remarked. He listed a range of ongoing issues including kidnappings, killings, cattle rustling, rape, extortion of farmers, displacement, and property damage.
The chairman criticized Governor Lawal’s frequent international trips to attract investors, labeling them as wasteful considering the state’s security challenges. He claimed that the number of people kidnapped, killed, and displaced in the past year surpasses figures from the previous 12 years, with over 1.6 million residents internally displaced out of a total population of 6 million.

Moreover, Mohammed lambasted the governor’s handling of the security crisis, noting that the Community Protection Guards, established months ago, have become ineffective due to lack of funding and equipment. He argued that the state has become a safe haven for bandits, resulting in widespread hunger and poverty as locals are unable to engage in farming or commerce.
He called on the governor to prioritize governance and address the insecurity plaguing the state, emphasizing his responsibility to both the citizens and a higher power. He emphasized that the people of Zamfara are entitled to security, prosperity, and progress.
The chairman also criticized the governor’s recent unveiling of “legacy projects,” which he claimed were essentially refurbished initiatives from previous administrations. Examples cited included the Lalam road, various roads near the Central Police Station and Government House, and the School of Agriculture in Bakura. He also revealed that the commissioned Almajiri schools were funded through the Federal Government’s Almajiri Schools Scheme.