Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has refuted claims that his administration borrowed the sum of N14.26 billion, clarifying that the funds were part of a loan initiated by the previous administration.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, it was emphasized that no domestic or external loans have been acquired since Governor Lawal assumed office.
The statement highlighted that the N14.26 billion, cited by the Debt Management Office (DMO) as part of Zamfara’s debt profile, was actually a portion of a N20 billion loan initially procured by the previous administration. Notably, only N4 billion of this loan was utilized for the Zamfara cargo airport project, with the remaining balance of N16 billion still held in a government account.
Upon assuming office, Governor Lawal’s administration assessed the existing loan terms and determined that terminating the bond would result in significant losses for the state. Therefore, the unused portion of the loan remains reserved for the airport project.
The clarification comes amidst the DMO’s publication of domestic debt profile data for states, which indicated an increase in Zamfara’s debt from N96.31 billion to N110.57 billion. However, Governor Lawal’s spokesperson reiterated that the reported loan was contracted by the previous administration and had not been augmented by the current government since its inception in May 2024.
The statement aims to address misconceptions regarding Zamfara’s debt profile and reaffirms Governor Lawal’s commitment to transparent governance and responsible financial management.
