…Says ‘terrorists will be defeated if…’
….Discusses huge infrastructure achievements
…Reveals how state IGR moved from N90m to over N5b in 30 months
His six-point agenda makes some sense. However what he stated he met when he assumed workplace didn’t:
“The worst factor was that we met an empty treasury.
Once I inform people who there was solely N4 million within the authorities account, individuals are at all times like, how is that attainable?”
That was not all (learn particulars within the interview). He promised to give attention to SECURITY, AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, ECONOMY and EMPOWERMENT. He has stored his promise. As an example, he has already moved the Internally Generated Income, IGR, of the state from a meagre N90 million month-to-month, to over 5 Billion inside simply 30 months. Nevertheless, the insecurity that Zamfara State is understood for is what provides Governor Dauda Lawal concern; not a lot as a result of it cannot be handled, however as a result of those that ought to act have created a deafening and dumbfounding stasis of unimaginable quantum, thereby permitting the disgusting optics which means that the terrorists are undefeatable.
When the quintet of Jide Ajani, Onochie Anibeze, Charles Kumolu, Soni Daniel and Jeremiah Urowayino met the governor in Abuja, he got here throughout as blunt and unassuming. For a banker turned politician, he has his work lower out.
Excerpts:
Governance: What did it really feel like while you took over?
I inherited a really, very severe and dysfunctional state in Zamfara, whereby we needed to begin from a deeper basis, not even the floor, as a result of we needed to go deeper to have the ability to come out to the place we’re at the moment. My first main problem, in fact, was the insecurity within the state.
It went on for about 10 years or so. Everytime you heard about Zamfara, it was at all times about killings, this and that and so forth. Every little thing was unfavorable. We had a backlog of salaries on the time that weren’t paid. Though the minimal wage in Zamfara then was N7,000, they couldn’t pay the salaries for 4 months. That was my first main challenge to cope with.
Second, for 5 good months, there was not a single drop of water within the state capital, Gusau, as a result of there was no cash to pay for the chemical compounds wanted for water therapy. They usually couldn’t purchase diesel, as a result of there was no cash to energy the mills to have the ability to pump water. To not speak of schooling the place, for good two years, our college students couldn’t write, WAEC and NECO, and so many different elements.
Healthcare was on the lowest stage. Training, usually, there was a disaster in all places. College students have been despatched to completely different locations, each inside and outdoors the nation. They couldn’t pay for the scholarship.
We had college students in India, Cyprus, Sudan, title it, speak much less of throughout the nation. The worst factor was that we met an empty treasury. Once I inform people who there was solely N4 million within the authorities account, individuals are at all times like, how is that attainable? Sure, how is that attainable? N4 Million? It’s attainable as a result of info don’t lie, and I nonetheless problem anyone to indicate me the place there was any cash on the time. I can provide the account assertion of what I met. It’s that easy. We’re not exaggerating. They have been imagined to pay M7,000 as minimal wage, but they couldn’t pay. The minimal wage was N7,000, and we had a fourmonth backlog on the time. To not discuss pensions and different issues. To not discuss infrastructure. If we present you the earlier than and after footage of Gusau as a metropolis, as a capital of Zamfara State, actually, it’s an eyesore.
You can’t transfer 200 metres on a great street in Gusau, speak much less of different 14 native authorities areas within the state. Every time it rained, in all places was flooded, it was unbelievable. Now, one other main factor was, as a result of they couldn’t settle their electrical energy invoice, KEDCO disconnected each authorities workplace, together with Authorities Home. There was no electrical energy.
This man, when he was leaving, he packed all of the official automobiles, the whole lot, not a single automobile to make use of. If not for my very own automobiles, I ponder what we might have executed. I supplied for myself, my spouse, the deputy governor, his spouse, and everybody else. For good six months, I used to be operating the state from my pocket as a result of there was nothing.
If you have been coming in, you had an concept that issues have been probably not working effectively, so that you wished to vary it. However what you noticed will need to have blown your thoughts past creativeness…
Truthfully, we have been simply trying on the floor on the time, as a result of it’s essential to go deeper to know the extent of the injury. It’s not one thing you’ll know from exterior. Till while you’re throughout the system, that’s while you really perceive the extent of the disaster throughout the state. So you may think about that you’re given only a state like that. The place do you even begin from? What do you do? How do you come out of it? With the speed of insecurity on the time, a day by no means passes by with out listening to that 100 individuals, 50 individuals, have been being killed identical to that for no cause. That was Zamfara State on the time, and even the debt profile was so excessive.
As we communicate now, on a month-to-month foundation, there’s a direct deduction of a minimal N1.2 billion from the FAC allocation – and that’s of the earlier debt. It was N1.5 billion once we began. Nevertheless it has lowered as a result of we didn’t borrow a dime up until at the moment.
You haven’t borrowed something?
No, I’ve not borrowed a dime.
How’s that attainable?
When individuals go to Zamfara and so they see what is occurring now, even my colleagues, they at all times ask me, oh, you’re utilizing your assets. I say, effectively, it’s good, at the very least I’ve assets I can use for the good thing about mankind.
We met a dysfunctional system. I inherited 48 commissioners, 52 everlasting secretaries. Then the pension. For 13 years, since 2011, they haven’t paid a dime. In the meantime, even after they exite from PENCOM, we noticed the place the cash was transferred to Zamfara State authorities, and so they simply took the cash. As an ex-banker, you may at all times hint the place the cash is. All these items have been tabled earlier than each anti-corruption company, letting them know what was taking place. There was no suggestions. Nothing about it. It’s only for report functions. I wasn’t anticipating something to return out of it anyway, however for the report, that is what we met. Sometime, someplace, by some means, someone will have a look at these data. It doesn’t matter how lengthy it takes.
However what did you do by way of coping with the morass? How did you prioritize?
The very first thing was to say allow us to clear the backlog of the salaries. Then it was about three billion Naira. So we cleared that. Then we started to place sure main issues in place. For the KEDCO, you already know what, I advised them, I can’t pay you, so let’s sit down and agree on the cost particulars, I imply, phrases. We did that, after which they related us again to the nationwide grid to have the ability to perform. And, in fact, the water challenge, inside 5 days, we have been capable of clear up that. I had to make use of a few of my contacts to name some individuals to get even the machine, as a result of all of the machines that have been imagined to be pumping water have been lifeless.
The little cash we had, we stated, okay, let’s repair the mills, let’s purchase chemical compounds. I needed to communicate to somebody and say, are you able to give us a three-month provide, when we’ve cash, we’ll pay you? However for certain, we might construction one thing for you on a month-to-month foundation till we discover our bearing. We have been capable of do all that.
The IGR challenge, how have been you ready to try this? From N90m month-to-month IGR to over N4 billion?
IGR is a perform of leakages as a result of there wasn’t any system to verify who was doing what and the way. So I stated, look, you’re not going to proceed. For us to be impartial, we must always be capable of generate sufficient cash to pay for our salaries. How did we do it? I needed to convey a few of my buddies that I do know have absolute confidence that they’ll be capable of ship on no matter we got down to do. There was a lot noise about me bringing foreigners. I stated, look, these foreigners should not commissioners, however advisers. And the structure has given me the proper to convey anyone, not even throughout the nation, even exterior the nation, to advise me because the governor of the state. There’s nothing anyone can do.
I additionally needed to rationalise all of the ministries. So I stated, you already know what, even the federal authorities doesn’t have 52 everlasting secretaries. So we had 22 not have 52 everlasting secretaries. So we had 22. However after they started to retire, I stated, look, I’ll get to that stage the place I do know I’ll be snug. Even the merger was a serious challenge. Oh, ‘he’s making an attempt to ship individuals away’. I stated I used to be not sending anyone away, I used to be simply making an attempt to see how we may have a working system that’s purposeful.
From the resistance to vary, while you first got here in and the insurance policies that have been put in place, what’s the response of the individuals at the moment?
You recognize, essentially the most troublesome factor is altering the mindset of individuals. Keep in mind, it’s a state that’s extra like a welfare state, the place individuals actually don’t care about growth. For anyone who’s 35 years of age in Zamfara, she or he doesn’t know the distinction between proper and flawed. As a result of Zamfara is nearly 30 years outdated now. You’ll be able to think about someone who was 5 years outdated on the time this state was created, and he’s used to this technique. So he doesn’t know the distinction between proper and flawed.
Engaged on the mindset was essentially the most troublesome factor. However I stated, we should do it and it isn’t not possible. There was a lot agitation. They’d say, give us cash. I stated, I’m not giving anyone cash, however I’ll repair the system. I’d slightly educate you, present healthcare for you, present infrastructure for you, practice you on how one can be by yourself, to not proceed to make you a dependent individual.
That is my objective, and there’s no going again. However the good factor is, I don’t have a political godfather in any other case it might have been troublesome. No person would name me and say, these insurance policies are too stringent.
Don’t do that, you’re going to do that. I stated, look, you already know what? It’s not about shedding the election. In reality, that is simply the primary yr, so neglect about 2027. If I’m capable of repair A, B, C, D inside this time-frame, I’m okay. What I would like is legacy. That’s what issues to me. I’m not right here to become profitable. I’m right here to make the system work.
The very first thing I needed to do was to declare a state of emergency in schooling. In the event you have a look at all of the indices in schooling on the time, Zanfara was at all times on the backside. We have been competing with Yobe.
Training… (Common laughter) You’ll be able to’t have a system like that. So, we declared a state of emergency. We stated, look, we should give attention to schooling as a result of that’s the solely instrument we are able to use in altering the mindset of individuals. That has labored. As we communicate, we’ve executed over 760 colleges. Throughout main and secondary colleges, we’ve executed 700.
Now, you have a look at the first colleges, as a result of that’s the place the inspiration is. And naturally, secondary faculty. However extra importantly, the tertiary establishments. We have now about three or 4 tertiary establishments. We have now the Abdu’l-Bissau Polytechnic, after which we’ve the state college. There’s additionally the Zamfara School of Artwork and Science. We have now executed huge infrastructure in these tertiary establishments. In the event you go to Zamfara, the place we’ve the Abdu’l-Bissau Polytechnic, I’ve spent over 40 billion Naira by way of new constructing and the whole lot, and coaching the academics additionally. We needed to do a holistic strategy to this complete factor as a result of in all places, disaster, downside. And you start to surprise, these guys that have been there, what precisely have been they doing? No person bothered about something. They’re not involved.
Are you speaking about reconstructing or renovating?
All: reconstructing, renovating and constructing outright. As of final month, we had 760 absolutely purposeful colleges renovated, furnished and we employed academics additionally. At one level we needed to make use of about 2,000 academics. Once we got here in, we found that, in some circumstances, there was just one math instructor in additional than 100 colleges. I’m telling you, it was like fiction. Nevertheless it’s actual. So we had to try this, and inside a short while, issues began altering.
We have now vibrant younger women and men, very clever guys. They simply want a driver, and we’ve seen it as a result of if you happen to see the end result now, it’s unbelievable. In most of those exams, you will notice Zamfara is now approaching high.
How about terrorism, as a result of when you point out Zamfara, it’s all about terrorism?
In the event you observe all my interviews about insecurity, I strongly imagine that we’re not prepared for this. I nonetheless imagine we’re not prepared as a result of it doesn’t take something. With expertise, each motion of any bandit, I’ve it in my system as a result of we’ve satellites and drones. Each motion is communicated to all of the related safety operators: police, army, DSS and civil Defence real-time. However it isn’t their precedence and it’s irritating. When you’ve gotten the instrument, you may neutralise these guys simply. They reside inside us. How is it troublesome? You’re telling me a bandit, a terrorist is superior to the state? How is that attainable? It’s not.
I met the president and I made it very clear to him that that is what it’s essential to do, that they aren’t telling you the reality.
You advised him that?
Sure.
There was no person I didn’t see on the high there, so far as safety operatives are involved. I stated, look, the way in which you’re going about that is the flawed method. We reside with these individuals. We all know their ache. If solely you’d hearken to us, I’m prepared to supply the framework below which this may work. What they stated was they didn’t have sufficient weapons to have the ability to face these guys. I stated, there isn’t any method you’ll persuade me of that. I stated, no, please don’t permit this factor to exit as a result of it would make a mockery of the system. The essence of governance is to have the ability to defend land and property of the residents. That’s the first precedence. After which the whole lot will observe.
For the sake of funding in Zamfara, regardless of these frustrations, what measures are you participating to indicate that there’s hope and the state is investible?
There is no such thing as a significant investor that may come to place in his cash the place his cash shouldn’t be safe as a result of they aren’t operating a charity organisation. You should be ready first to safe the state and supply the required enabling infrastructure in place.
Earlier than, if I inform you to go to Gusau, the truth is, all people that you already know from your loved ones will name for prayers as a result of it’s like you might be simply going into your grave. That was the mindset. By the way, it’s a state that’s so blessed by way of crystal, stable minerals. You recognize, the stunning factor is the truth that if you happen to have a look at the casual market of gold in Zamfara each day, a each day transaction of about 1 million {dollars}. It’s casual, nothing involves the state. That is simply gold, to not discuss lithium. To not discuss copper. To not discuss so many different issues.
If you’re speaking about industrial actions in northern Nigeria, exterior Kano, Gusau was the second industrial centre within the north, adopted by Gombe and Funtua due to the railway chain.
My father was an industrialist. I’m certain you already know about Zamfara textile then. He was one of many pioneers and house owners of that manufacturing facility. And due to tanneries additionally, we had the biggest tanneries in Nigeria. All of the individuals from North Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria have been all in Gusau. It was a cosmopolitan metropolis the place we had the whole lot. We had a rustic membership. It nonetheless exists now. Due to the textile, we had Chinese language, Lebanese and different foreigners. We had over 22 ginneries. We had an oil mill. We had so many. All these multinationals, SCOA, and GB Olivant have been in Gusau.
Once I was in college, I hardly spent the weekend in Zaria. I’d drive my automobile from Zaria at 10pm and get to Gusau by 10.30. As a result of it’s only one hour and half-hour. The nation was so good. We might go and have a celebration in Gusau. On Sunday, we head again to Ahmadu Bello College, Zaria. That was the way it was as a metropolis. Very enterprising individuals. However the second politics got here in 1999, the whole lot simply collapsed. They confirmed them there was a straightforward solution to become profitable, that you just didn’t must work arduous. There may be cash. Don’t hassle. Enterprise, that’s an excessive amount of. That was how they weakened the system.
We have to open up the state by laying the inspiration for vital infrastructure. And that’s what we’re doing. In the event you go to Zamfara, we are able to compete with any metropolis so far as city renewal is worried. We needed to begin from the start. We did implausible roads. No compromise. Drainages. Renewable vitality. In the event you go to Gusau at evening, you will notice actions as a result of in all places has modified.
There’s this discuss an airport in Zamfara?
I’m so enthusiastic about that. Our airport will likely be prepared on the finish of March – this coming March. We’re in February now. They’ve promised handy over the airport by March 31. It’s each home and worldwide. Our runway is the usual runway wherever on the earth. Due to expertise now, we’ve the newest navigational tools. We’re method forward of any airport. We’re constructing a 5 star resort, it would even be prepared by the top of the second quarter of this yr.
The well being sector is alleged…
(Cuts in) We additionally declared an emergency within the space of well being. As we communicate now, we’ve 10 new normal hospitals absolutely geared up with the newest expertise. We have now the newest MRI within the nation. Newest CT scan within the nation. They’re 2025 fashions. We constructed employees quarters for the medical doctors. As we communicate now, we’re the best paying state so far as medical medical doctors are involved, not even the federal authorities as a result of that’s the solely method you may appeal to them. And they’re coming.
Go to our nursing faculty and see what we’ve as a result of we have to practice the nurses. We have now two nursing colleges. We constructed infrastructure there the place they will be taught as a result of it’s essential to even have manpower to have the ability to handle these hospitals. We have now 10 absolutely geared up normal hospitals now that you just don’t must go to India or wherever for medical examination, you get it executed there. Every little thing is on-line. We have now full medical data. Each hospital that’s constructed is linked.
I’m absolutely proud to say we’ve the perfect hospital so far as the well being sector is worried in Nigeria at the moment. Obasanjo commissioned the hospitals in Zamfara. When he went there, he couldn’t imagine what he noticed.
What have you ever executed within the schooling sector?
Like I stated, schooling is vital as a result of that’s the very first thing that we needed to take into account in declaring a state of emergency due to the significance of schooling. They’d slightly offer you peanuts, offer you N2,000 after which steal N10 million. Now, below my administration, the whole lot is clear.
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