Nigeria at 64 Independence, Zamfara at 28, Governor Lawal Calls for Peace, Prayers
By Juliet Vincent
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has urged for intensified prayers for peace and stability in Nigeria as the country celebrates 64 years of independence.
Governor Lawal stated this in a goodwill message on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said 1st October is a special day for reflecting on the struggles and sacrifices of the founding fathers who fought for Nigeria’s freedom, unity, and prosperity.
Zamfara State was among the six states created by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha on October 1, 1996.
He added that for Zamfara State, the occasion presents a cause for dual celebration, “as we are equally commemorating the 28th anniversary of the creation of our dear State.”
According to the statement, this moment calls for sober reflection on the plight of Zamfara State, and by extension, the entire region, which has long been overwhelmed by unprecedented challenges of insecurity, health and education sectors, food crises, and infrastructural decay.
He noted that within one year of the administration, the state has experienced remarkable transformation and is on the path to growth and development and making significant strides in security, agriculture and food security, health, education sectors, infrastructure, and public service reform, among others.
“In the area of security, we established, trained, and equipped the Community Protection Guards (CPGs), formed the Security Trust Fund (STF), provided monthly financial grants/assistance to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies, and eradicated political thuggery and its attendant consequences.
“On education, we declared a state of emergency in the sector; negotiated the settlement of outstanding WAEC and NECO exam fees, amounting to a cumulative sum of N3.4 billion; massively reconstructed, rehabilitated, and furnished primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions across the fourteen local government areas of the state,” the governor explained.
He pointed out that his administration also declared a state of emergency in the health sector, introduced free medical outreach programs and provided essential drugs to vulnerable groups, and rehabilitated and furnished health institutions in the state.
It also revitalized basic healthcare provision and settlement of counterpart funds for donor interventions as well as ongoing expansion of Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital which we hope to upgrade to a Teaching Hospital for Zamfara State University.
To boost agriculture, he said, government provided fertilizers and other agricultural inputs for rain-fed agriculture and dry-season farming and renovated, furnished, and upgraded the College of Agriculture and Technology, Bakura.
The Governor mentioned some roads commissioned by the administration including Bello Bara’u Intersection – Nasiha Pharmacy Road; commissioned UBA Intersection – Government House Road; Bello Bara’u Intersection – Government House Road; Government House Junction – Lalan Roundabout Road and have completed Dalha Bungudu Junction – Birnin Ruwa Junction Road
