Residents of Zamfara North Senatorial District have expressed appreciation for the achievements of former Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle, now serving as the Minister of State for Defence, hailing his efforts in driving infrastructure, security, and public services from 2019 to 2023.
During a press briefing held in Kaura Namoda, community spokesperson Kasimu Lauwali acknowledged Matawalle’s substantial contributions, citing transformative projects that brought noticeable advancements to the district.
“In all honesty, we miss former Governor Matawalle for his remarkable contributions, especially within just a year of taking office,” Lauwali stated.
Among Matawalle’s notable initiatives was the rehabilitation of the key Kauran Namoda-Talatar Mafara-Tudun-Wada Gusau road, alongside a significant investment of over 203 million Naira to enhance water supply across Zamfara. His administration also allocated over 510 million Naira for water treatment chemicals and completed an extensive renovation of the Zamfara State House of Assembly at a cost exceeding 842 million Naira.
The healthcare sector saw improvements through the procurement of essential hospital equipment worth around 389 million Naira. Matawalle’s administration also focused on state facilities, including renovating the Gusau Government House and constructing a governor’s lodge in Kaduna, a project valued at 784 million Naira intended to reduce official travel expenses.
Support for local media was a priority, with more than 170 million Naira allocated for Gold City FM and 253 million Naira invested in digital upgrades for the Legacy Newspaper. Infrastructure improvements also included the construction of the Kwaiwa Lamba-Gidan Gogo road, costing 593 million Naira.
Residents praised Matawalle’s administration for enhancing security, citing a nine-month period of relative peace with no reported loss of life. His focus on critical sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, and media has left a lasting impact, with all projects reportedly completed by May 2023.
In contrast, concerns were raised about the current administration under Governor Dauda Lawal, with critics accusing him of neglecting ongoing projects and not matching the commitment seen during Matawalle’s tenure.
