A prominent civic advocacy group has issued a strong call for the immediate resignation of Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of "gross underperformance" and failing to deliver on critical campaign promises.
The Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability in the North-West (COGGAN), in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by its president, Alhaji Ibrahim Anka, lambasted the governor for what it described as a "complete failure" particularly in addressing insecurity and improving basic education in the state.
"Governor Dauda Lawal told Zamfara people during the 2023 election campaign that he would bring an end to banditry within three months of becoming governor. It is now over a year, and not only has insecurity worsened, but entire communities have been abandoned to the mercy of violent gangs," the statement reads.
The group highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara, noting that villages face weekly raids, schoolchildren are being kidnapped, farmers cannot access their lands, and rural markets have collapsed under the current administration.
Education Sector Neglect
COGGAN further accused Governor Lawal of abandoning the education sector, pointing out that not a single functional school has been constructed or rehabilitated since he assumed office in 2023.
"Zamfara ranks among the poorest states in terms of education, yet the governor has done nothing to change this. He promised to build schools for poor children, but no single block of classrooms has been commissioned. Instead, billions of naira have been spent without transparency or measurable outcomes," the advocacy group stated.
Questions Over Financial Management
The coalition raised serious concerns about the handling of public funds, questioning the management of federal allocations, budgetary releases, and special intervention funds received by the state since 2023.
"Since May 2023, Zamfara has received over N100 billion in federal allocations and intervention funds. Where is the money? What has it been used for? There are no roads, no new hospitals, no improvements in water supply, and no job creation programmes for our youth. The people deserve answers," COGGAN demanded.
The group warned that without urgent intervention, Zamfara risks falling into a deeper state of despair, characterized by poor governance and lack of transparency.
Call for Resignation
Concluding its statement, COGGAN called on Governor Lawal to "step down honourably," asserting that he has betrayed the trust of the people who elected him.
"We hereby call on Governor Dauda Lawal to step down honourably. He has betrayed the trust of the people who elected him. Resignation is the first step toward restoring hope and rebuilding Zamfara," the group declared.
As of the time of this report, the Zamfara State government had not issued an official response to these allegations.
