Zamfara gov hailed on leadership

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, has commended Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, for what he described as transformational leadership.

According to a statement on Friday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaimon Idris, Olukoyede gave the commendation on Thursday while delivering the keynote address at the 30th anniversary celebration of Zamfara State, held at the Grand Chamber of the Government House in Gusau.

The statement said Olukoyede conducted background checks on the governor and the state before accepting the invitation, noting that developments recorded in Zamfara over the past three years influenced his decision to attend the event.

It stated that Olukoyede explained that the ethical demands of his office made him cautious about attending political gatherings and visiting government houses.

“By virtue of the ethical demands of my office, I don’t attend political events; I don’t go to the government house as a matter of principle. But when I received this invitation, something told me to accept and see what was going on there,” he was quoted as saying.

Olukoyede added that after assessing the governor’s performance and the state’s development trajectory, he sought President Bola Tinubu’s approval to attend the anniversary celebration.

“I went to meet my boss, Mr President, and he said, go. I told him what I have seen about Zamfara and the need to support the work His Excellency, Dauda Lawal, is doing in this state,” he added, according to the statement.

Describing his first visit to Zamfara, the EFCC boss said the new airport, improved road networks, and installation of solar-powered streetlights were among the developments that caught his attention upon arrival in Gusau.

The statement added that Olukoyede noted Zamfara had remained among Nigeria’s less-developed states for years despite its natural resources and the efforts of previous administrations.

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According to him, the physical transformation of Gusau reflects a broader shift in the state’s development outlook.

Olukoyede also commended the state’s improving performance in national examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council and the West African Examinations Council.

He said the expansion of public infrastructure and improvements in education demonstrated the impact of deliberate reforms, in line with the anniversary lecture’s theme, “Accountability and Responsibility in Transformational Government.”

Meanwhile, Lawal said the anniversary theme, “Reflections, Achievements, and the Future,” was designed to assess the challenges that had shaped the state and identify strategies for securing a better future.

He said the anniversary lecture provided an opportunity for intellectual engagement on critical issues, including public accountability, community participation in tackling insecurity, the preservation of history and culture, and the relationship between security and socio-economic development.

The governor said his administration’s Six-Point Rescue Agenda was designed to address the state’s challenges, while the Zamfara State Development Plan 2025–2034 provided a long-term framework for economic growth, infrastructure, social welfare, human capital development, governance, and environmental sustainability.

Lawal stressed the need to translate policy commitments into measurable improvements in the living conditions of residents.

He expressed appreciation to the speakers, discussants, organising committee, and participants for their contributions to the anniversary celebration.