The Matawalle Loda Group for viewing Zamfara Cargo airport

A group of civil society based in Zamfara greeted the former governor and current Minister of State for Defense, dr. Beautiful Matawalle, for its foresight in the start of the Cargo di Zamfara airport project.

The Zamfara Good Governance Group (ZGG), in a declaration released on Monday, praised Matawalle’s leadership, describing the load airport as a “strategic and transformative initiative” aimed at unlocking the economic potential of the state.

The president of the group, Aminu Kabiru Tsafe, said that the airport project was designed to attract direct foreign investments in critical sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism and hospitality.

“Dr. Matawalle assigned the project to N11.8 billion, with N7 billion already paid, and the construction reached the completion of 60 % before leaving the assignment, showing its tax discipline and the push of development,” said Tsafe.

He observed that the broader vision of the former governor was to position Zamfara as an economic center, able to create job opportunities and raise residents from poverty.

ZGG also praised the results of Matawalle’s security, stating that his administration saved over 1,200 kidnapped victims and recovered significant weapons, all with limited resources.

However, the group expressed concern about the revocation and reinterpretation of the contract of the load airport by the current administration under the governor Dauda Lawal.

Tsafe accused Governor Lawal of inflating the cost of the project at N62.9 billion and in addition to n90 billion in a revised budget, defining the move “unjustifiable and expensive.

“It is important to remember to the people of Zamfara and the Nigerians that this is the same Dauda who, when he entered office, promised to heaven and earth. He promised not to touch the government coffers.

“But why did he swell a project that was initially assigned to the cost of ₦ from 11.8 billion to ₦ 60 billion? And this was not enough: another variation of ₦ 30 billion has now brought the total to ₦ 90 billion.

“Now he has remained for the people to judge between Dr. Matawalle and Dauda Lawal, who really cares about the interest of the people? Even an international airport would not require such a huge budget.

“Dauda clearly does not have the interest of the people of Zamfara. We have to tell us the truth.”

It also reminds the public that Lawal had promised that the airport would be used for Hajj in 2023, a commitment that had never been fulfilled.

ZGG criticized what he called the inability of the governor Lawal to rely on the foundation placed by Matawalle, despite having received significantly higher monthly allocations than his predecessor.

“Zamfara deserves better. We ask transparency and responsibility in the management of public resources,” said the group.

The declaration ended by soliciting citizens to recognize and support the legacy of dr. Matawalle, asking for better performances from the current government.