Matawalle Reacts on Alleged Embezzlement of Billions from Zamfara Cargo Airport

The former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mohammed Bello Matawalle has reacted to the allegations of embezzling billions of Naira from the abandoned Cargo Airport in Zamfara State.

This is a sequel to the allegation leveled against Matawalle by the incumbent administration of Governor Dauda Lawal Dare who had recently accused the administration of Bello Matawalle of embezzling public funds in billions.

However, in a statement issued by Ibrahim Dosara, former Commissioner of information of the immediate past administration of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun, the Governor stated that the accusation was nothing but calculated mischief and diversionary tactics of Governor Dauda Lawal as ” he specializes in diverting people’s attention from his insensitivity, failure, and inability to fulfill his campaign promises on tackling security concerns bedeviling the state immediately after he assumes office.”

According to the statement, ” the attention of the immediate past Government of Zamfara State under Hon (Dr) Bello Mohammed Matawllen Maradun MFR, has been drawn to a press statement issued by Governor Dauda Lawal Dare in which the Governor accuses the immediate past administration of former Gov Matawalle of embezzling public funds in billions.”

“It is in response to this baseless claim and allegation, and to put matters on record in their true perspective, that I wish to submit the following facts on the cargo Airport project contract:-The immediate past Government under Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawallen Maradun inherited the Cargo Airport Project from its predecessor. As the government is a continuous process, former Gov Matawalle saw the need to consider completing the project for its numerous benefits to the people of the state and beyond. I want to bring to the attention of the general public that it is only Zamfara State that has no an Airport of its own, up to the time of this press statement.”

“After due deliberations in council, it was agreed that the project be continued. As a follow-up to the state Executive Council’s resolution and decision on the project, contractors were invited to bid for the contract to execute the Cargo Airport Project. After reaching an agreement and in consultation with the Federal Airport Authority the Matawalle government immediately mobilized the contractors to the site to handle the project to its timely completion.”

“In the first instance, a bill of 28, 000, 000, 000 ( Twenty-eight Billion Naira ) was submitted to the government for consideration. However, due to the foresight and prudence of the former Gov Matawalle, his government rejected the bill which the former Gov considered outrageous and crazy. The former Gov, therefore, insisted that the amount be downreviewed to a considerable sum, which was downsized to 11, 000, 000, 000 ( Eleven Billion Naira only ).”

“For those who are unaware of the funding process of this project, let me bring it to your knowledge that the project was being funded through a banking arrangement known as “Contract financing”. This means an agreement between the Zamfara State government and some private companies involving funding banks who released money only on the satisfaction that the certificates raised by the government are commensurate to the works done on site. Mr Lawal Dare been an expert banker knows what this means.”

“I wonder how monies meant for the project under this banking arrangement could have been embezzled by the former Governor. For the record, the following compartments of the contract were carried out and have reached various stages of completion as follows: Access Roads -Airport access dual road, Gate, and Drainages have all been completed with an environment assessment by the Federal Ministry of Aviation carried out and completed.”

” The 1.5 kilometers Link road is cleared, sand filled and compaction completed. However, in his attempt to cause mischief to the immediate past administration, Gov Dauda Lawal ordered the scrapping of the road.”

” Runway has been excavated, sand filling carried out with compaction of two kilometers out of the 3.4 kilometers completed as well as the clearance of one kilometer completed.”

” Taxing way of 500 meters, clearance, excavation, sand filling, and compaction was carried out and completed. The apron area which is 200/2 meters of 190 meters was cleared with excavation, sand filling, and compaction were completed. Terminal-Level iron rafter is at the 50 percent stage of completion. The water pool is at 90 percent completion, while the water reservoir of the cargo airport has been fully completed with all Boreholes drilled across the airplane completed.”

“The cargo itself is at 75 percent stage of completion with its fire station at 75 percent of completion. The cargo airport wire fence is at a 75 percent stage of completion.

Regarding the airport Mast, the NCAA was urged to advise the neighboring Air Force Base to move it from the current location to avoid interruption at the airport. Again, all the relevant and concerned authorities including the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency NAMA were involved in the professional execution of the project. The services of the competent consultant were engaged in the execution of the cargo airport with all relevant documents at hand.”

“The Contractor, the consultant, and the Supervising bank are all available for the government of Dauda Lawal to investigate and ascertain the reality of things regarding the contract rather than rushing to press barking like a wild dog, making unjustified media trial of the former Governor and his government.”

“How can the former Gov being an honest and sincere great leader who saved the state government resources in this project, be accused of embezzlement of public funds in this project? This is true, nothing but calculated mischief and diversionary tactics of Gov Dauda Lawa, as he specializes in diverting people’s attention from his insensitivity, failure, and inability to fulfill his campaign promises to tackle security concerns bedeviling the state immediately after he assumes office.”

“This campaign of calumny embarked upon by Gov Lawal Dare cannot cannot save him from the slumber of his administration. We therefore condemned in its entirety, this criminal way of governance. It is a complete irresponsibility of the highest order by the Lawal Dare administration to divert people’s attention from his government, failure, lack of vision, mission, and direction.”

“Rather than concentrating on massive drive and efforts towards finding lasting solutions to the lingering security concerns of the state, the Governor is now chasing wild goose in search of ways to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the former Governor and his government.”
Vanguard.