The Zamfara Youth Awareness Forum has called on the state Chamber of Commerce to hold Governor Dauda Lawal accountable over the alleged diversion of ₦1.1 billion meant for entrepreneurs.
Chairman of the forum, Muhammad Mua’zu Shinkafi, made the demand in a statement on Wednesday.
He said the Zamfara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture should not attempt to deflect blame in the scandal surrounding the intervention fund.
According to him, the chamber had submitted the details of more than 1,000 business owners across all 14 local government areas, but the disbursement process failed to reach genuine entrepreneurs.
“Not even ten members who fulfilled all requirements can be identified as beneficiaries,” he alleged.
Shinkafi insisted that the money was manipulated and diverted to individuals who were not indigenes of the state.
He accused the governor and his associates of betraying the trust of hardworking entrepreneurs who were expecting support.
The group demanded a full and transparent audit of the disbursement, urging the chamber to publish both the list of those submitted and the names of alleged beneficiaries.
He recalled that before 2019, Zamfara was the only state without a chamber of commerce until former governor Bello Matawalle established and empowered it.
Shinkafi stressed that the chamber must stop shielding those in power and instead push for accountability and justice for Zamfara entrepreneurs.