By BASHIR ADEFAKA and IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
Governor of Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, Hon. Mohammed Bello Matawalle, has sworn in two additional members of the state Executive Council, 10 Special Advisers, eight new Permanent Secretaries and the new Auditor-General of the state.
During the swearing ceremony, Governor Matawalle called on stakeholders to join hands with his administration in harnessing the vast natural and mineral resources in the state for growth and development.
In a statement issued by his Director General, Media Public Enlightenment and Communications, Malam Yusuf Idris Gusau, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, stakeholders joining hands with the governor towards success was described as critical.
This, the governor said, was in a bid to ensure that the vast mineral resources available are harnessed for the present and future growth and development of the state rather than allowing them to waste or be left untapped.
According to him, his administration is doing its best to put an end to banditry and all other forms of criminalities in order to create a veritably conducive environment for investors which will in turn generate more employment opportunities for the youth.
He noted with gratitude that the recent mobile communication shut down by his administration aimed at giving security personnel the leeway in fighting bandits is grogressively yielding fruits as within the short period of time under review, a total of 544 abductees were rescued including two students from FGC Yawuri, Kebbi state, 18 students from College of Agriculture and Animal Science Bakura and 75 students from Government Day Secondary School, Kaya.
“His Excellency also disclosed that series of arrests of suspected bandits and their collaborators were made across the 14 local government councils as well as the interception of a large cache of alcoholic drinks and hard drugs meant for the bandits.
“The Matawallen Maradun said having attended the United Nations Conference of Partners in Glasgow, this November, and realized that banditry might be connected to climate change as revealed by experts, being a subnational entity, Zamfara State, like other members of the global community, will be part of the global conversation on issues that will make our State safer and conducive for development activities.
“To the new appointees, the governor charged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of their new responsibilities so as to account for the confidence reposed in them by both the government and people of the state.
“He commended security personnel operating in the state for dislodging bandits, their hideouts and informers and also commended members of the public in all the 14 local government areas of the state for their cooperation and support to the military exercises and government programmes and project aimed at taking the state to greater heights,” the statement said.
Delivering a vote of thanks on behalf of the new appointees, Honourable Muktar Ahmad Darma thanked the governor for finding them worthy of the appointment and assured to discharge their respective duties with utmost sense of honesty and dedication for the government to succeed.
He assured that they will individually and collectively support the governor in the area of security especially in his efforts to end banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
Personalities at the event include the Speaker Zamfara State House of Assembly, Honourable Nasiru Maazu Magarya, Former Deputy Governors Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad and Honourable Muktar Ahmad Anka, Honourary advisor to the Governor, Honourable Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi and Honourable Usman Dankalili Bakura.
Others include Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru Mohammed Gayari, Chief of Staff, Government House, Mallam Ibrahim Sulaiman Gusau, Emirs of Anka Alhaji Attahiru Mohammed Ahmad and Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, Members of the State and National Assemblies, Honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries and Directors General, Local Government Sole Administrators and many APC Stewart among others.
