Shinkafi Faults Zamfara Govt On Airport Project

A former governorship candidate in Zamfara State and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ex-national secretary, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has criticised the governor of the state, Dauda Lawal, over the recent contract award for constructing a cargo airport.

He questioned the rationale behind embarking on such a resource-intensive project when the state grapples with banditry and requires security and social amenities.

Shinkafi accused the governor of misleading the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to repeat the flag-off of the construction of the Gusau International Cargo Airport, a project initiated by former governor Bello Matawalle four years ago.

He further claimed that the governor’s re-awarding of the contract for N62.8 billion was excessively high, making it one of the most expensive airports in the country.

Shinkafi expressed these views in a statement he signed on behalf of the Patriot for Advancement of Peace and Social Development, a group in which he is the executive director.

Shinkafi, who previously served as an aide to ex-Governor Matawalle, questioned the rationale behind embarking on such a resource-intensive project when the state is grappling with banditry and requires security and social amenities. He stressed the importance of setting the record straight regarding the Gusau International Cargo Airport in Zamfara State, which Governor Dauda Lawal recently invited the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, to re-flag off at the cost of N62.8 billion.

He noted that government is a continuum, a relay race where an elected leader completes their tenure and hands over the baton to their successor for the state’s sustainable development, which is the essence of electoral governance.

He pointed out that former Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi initiated the airport’s construction in 2008, compensating farmers for the land acquired for the project but could not commence construction before leaving office.

Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, who succeeded Shinkafi, could not execute the project significantly as his administration tackled other crucial issues. When Dr. Bello Matawalle assumed office on May 29, 2019, he considered the airport a legacy project for rejuvenating Zamfara State’s socio-economic development.

He said Matawalle awarded the construction contract to AVIC International Engineering Limited for N11.4 billion and paid 30% mobilization, amounting to N3.5 billion, to commence work, adding that as construction progressed, considering disruptions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown, an additional 20% of the contract sum, N2.3 billion, was paid to AVIC International Engineering Limited. He said the Matawalle administration paid N5.8 billion for the project.

He claimed that AVIC International Engineering Limited had started constructing the access road, airport gate, terminal building, fire service station, underground drainage, and a 2.5km runway before Matawalle left office in May 2023. Shinkafi argued that Bello Matawalle’s administration awarded the contract for N11.4 billion and paid N5.8 billion, which he nooted starkly contrasts with Governor Dauda Lawal’s claims.

He expressed disappointment that Lawal would allegedly mislead the Minister of Aviation and the people of Zamfara State, revoking the contract awarded to AVIC International Engineering Limited despite the ongoing legal battle. He said the company approached the Federal High Court Abuja to seek redress against the Zamfara State government, the attorney-general of Zamfara State, the Ministry of Works and Transport Zamfara State, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Zamfara State, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Shinkafi said despite the legal proceedings, Governor Lawal re-awarded the airport project.