Shinkafi Demands Explanation Over Zamfara Gold Reserve Initiative, Gives Government 14-Day Ultimatum
Former National Secretary of APGA and patron of the Tinubu Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has called on former Zamfara State Governor and current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to provide a detailed account of the controversial Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative launched during his administration.
Shinkafi who is also the Executive Director, Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, in a statement issued on Thursday questioned the status of the gold reserve project that was widely publicised in 2020 when Matawalle presented 31 kilograms of gold and precious stones to former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to the group, Matawalle had informed Buhari that the gold was procured by the Zamfara State Government through local miners as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s financial base and prevent illegal trading of gold, which was believed to be fueling insecurity in the state.
Shinkafi expressed concern that three years after Matawalle left office, there has been no public information regarding the whereabouts, management, or value of the gold reserve initiative.
“We believe citizens have a constitutional right to hold elected public office holders accountable. Public officers are trustees of public resources and must account for their stewardship,” the statement said.
The group raised a series of questions, demanding to know the total quantity of gold acquired by the Zamfara State Government between 2020 and 2023, how much was handed over to incumbent Governor Dauda Lawal upon assumption of office on May 29, 2023, and whether the assets were reflected in the official handover notes and transition committee report.
Among other issues, Shinkafi also queried the legality of the initiative, noting that the Federal Government suspended mining activities in Zamfara State from 2019 until 2025 as part of efforts to combat armed banditry linked to illegal mining.
He questioned how the Matawalle administration was able to engage local miners and purchase gold during the period when mining operations had officially been prohibited.
The statement further demanded disclosure of the commercial bank where the reserve was kept, certificates of origin and ownership of the gold, the identities of local miners involved in the transactions, and details of any licensed mineral buying centres used by the state government.
Shinkafi also requested information on the purity, weight, and monetary value of any gold allegedly transferred to the current administration.
The group estimated that the 31 kilograms of gold presented to Buhari in October 2020 would be worth approximately ₦5.95 billion at current market value.
The statement recalled that the initiative generated controversy at the time, attracting criticism from some governors in the South South region, including former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who questioned whether states should directly control revenues from natural resources.
The statement also referenced comments by former Minister of Mines and Steel Development Olamilekan Adegbite, who reportedly maintained that all mineral resources remain under the control of the Federal Government as stipulated by the Constitution.
Shinkafi issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Zamfara State Government to publish the handover notes and transition committee report relating to the Gold Reserve Initiative in national newspapers.
He warned that failure to do so would compel the organisation to petition anti corruption and security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, for investigation.
The group maintained that transparency and accountability remain essential pillars of democratic governance and pledged to continue scrutinising public officials in the interest of good governance, peace, and national development.
“No public office holder is above accountability. Sovereignty resides in the people, and citizens have the right to demand answers on matters involving public resources,” the statement concluded.
