Zamfara group labels Gov Lawal’s two years in office a “monumental failure”

A civil society organization in Zamfara State has delivered a scathing appraisal of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration, describing his two years in office as a “monumental failure” marked by wasteful spending, worsening insecurity, and a lack of tangible development.

The Zamfara Progressive Coalition (ZAC) made the claims in a strongly worded statement signed by its president, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Azumi, accusing Governor Lawal of squandering billions of naira received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) without meaningful impact on the lives of citizens.

The group said: “It is heartbreaking that two years after the election of Dauda Lawal, Zamfara remains a state defined by hunger, fear, and neglect.

“Billions have come in, but not one major road, hospital, or school has been built or rehabilitated.”

ZAC criticized the governor’s frequent absence from the state, alleging that he spends more time in Abuja than in Gusau, the state capital.

“We got a part-time governor who prefers the comfort of Abuja to the cries of his people,” Dan-Azumi stated.

The group highlighted persistent insecurity as a major concern, noting that large parts of the state, particularly in Tsafe, Bungudu, and Maru local government areas, have been overrun by bandits who impose levies on farmers and displace rural communities.

“Bandits collect taxes from farmers, while the government sits idle. Our people are being kidnapped weekly, yet the governor keeps attending ceremonies in Abuja,” the coalition said.

The group further decried the collapse of social services across the state.

According to ZAC, hospitals are under-equipped, maternal deaths are rising, and schools lack basic infrastructure and qualified teachers.

Local government workers, the group said, are owed salaries, while thousands of children remain out of school.

Calling for a forensic audit of the state’s finances since 2023, the coalition demanded transparency on how FAAC funds have been utilized.

ZAC also accused the government of failing to harness Zamfara’s economic potential, citing untapped gold reserves, fertile agricultural land, and a large youth population as missed opportunities.

“This is a state with potential. But instead, the government celebrates IGR growth on paper, while the people remain poor, hungry, and forgotten,” the group said.

To hold the administration accountable, the coalition announced plans to publish monthly scorecards tracking the governor’s activities and performance.

They also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to launch an investigation into the state’s finances over the past two years.