A youth group in Zamfara State has accused the state government of falsifying financial records to claim credit for projects largely funded by an external donor agency.
The Zamfara Youth Awareness Forum, in a statement on Sunday, alleged that the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal Dare deliberately misrepresented figures in its 2025 third-quarter budgetary report.
According to the group, the government listed a total expenditure of N2.6 billion for hospital renovation projects that were mostly funded by NG-CARES, while the state only contributed about N450 million worth of medical equipment.
Facilities affected include the General Hospitals in Nassarawa Burkullu (Bukkuyum LGA), Gusau, and Kaura Namoda, which NG-CARES reportedly renovated.
“This is not only misleading but a direct insult to the intelligence of the people of Zamfara,” said the Forum’s Secretary, Muhammad Abubakar Gusau. “Governor Dauda Lawal Dare has chosen to claim credit for what was largely funded by NG-CARES—a clear act of deception and budgetary fraud.”
The group described the development as “a betrayal of public trust and a mockery of transparency,” accusing the governor of prioritising propaganda over genuine performance.
It urged anti-corruption agencies, civil society groups, and the media to investigate the inflated hospital budget claim and expose those behind the alleged manipulation.
“Our people deserve honesty, not cooked-up figures,” the Forum said. “Zamfara youths will no longer remain silent while lies are dressed up as progress.”