A Zamfara-based civil society group has hailed the former Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, for his foresight in initiating the Zamfara Cargo Airport project.
The Zamfara Good Governance Group (ZGG), in a statement issued on Monday, praised Matawalle’s leadership, describing the cargo airport as a “strategic and transformative initiative” aimed at unlocking the state’s economic potential.
Chairman of the group, Aminu Kabiru Tsafe, said the airport project was designed to attract foreign direct investment into critical sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism, and hospitality.
“Dr Matawalle awarded the project at N11.8 billion, with N7 billion already paid,and the construction has reached 60 percent completion before he left office, showcasing his fiscal discipline and developmental drive,” Tsafe said.
He noted that the former governor’s broader vision was to position Zamfara as an economic hub, capable of creating job opportunities and lifting residents out of poverty.
ZGG also commended Matawalle’s security achievements, stating that his administration rescued over 1,200 kidnapped victims and recovered significant weaponry, all with limited resources.
However, the group expressed concern over the revocation and re-award of the cargo airport contract by the current administration under Governor Dauda Lawal.
Tsafe accused Governor Lawal of inflating the project cost to N62.9 billion, and further to N90 billion in a revised budget, calling the move “unjustifiable and wasteful.
“It is important to remind the people of Zamfara and Nigerians that this is the same Dauda who, when coming into office, promised the people heaven and earth. He vowed not to touch the government’s coffers.
“But how come he inflated a project that was initially awarded at the cost of ₦11.8 billion to ₦60 billion? And that wasn’t enough—another variation of ₦30 billion has now brought the total to ₦90 billion.
“It is now left for the people to judge between Dr Matawalle and Dauda Lawal—who truly has the people’s interest at heart? Even an international airport would not require such a huge budget.
“Dauda clearly does not have the interest of Zamfara people at heart. We must tell ourselves the truth.”
He also remind the public that Lawal had promised the airport would be used for Hajj in 2023, a pledge that was never fulfilled.
ZGG criticised what it called Governor Lawal’s failure to build on the foundation laid by Matawalle, despite receiving significantly higher monthly allocations than his predecessor.
“Zamfara deserves better. We call for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources,” the group said.
The statement concluded by urging citizens to recognise and uphold the legacy of Dr Matawalle while demanding better performance from the current government.