Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, inaugurated a 21-member Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Zamfara State Security Trust Fund on Wednesday.
A former Inspector-General of Police, MD Abubakar, is the BoT Chairman, with Dr. Hamza Muhammad as Administrative Secretary.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained in a statement that the government established the Security Trust Fund to gather funds and aid the government’s efforts in tackling the prevailing menace of insecurity in parts of the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor said that “the decision to establish the Trust Fund was motivated by the recognition that the security situation in the state, along with its attendant consequences, has become a matter of grave concern not only to the government and citizens of Zamfara State but also to the entire nation.
“Over the years, criminal activities have led to the tragic loss of thousands of lives and the destruction of billions of naira worth of means of livelihood in the state.
“Moreover, they severely weakened our economy, causing significant repercussions in vital sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and commerce.
“Consequently, it is evident that we have to widen our horizons in the quest for viable and enduring solutions to the issue.”
“In order to guarantee prudence and effectiveness in discharging the Board’s duties and responsibilities, we meticulously appointed individuals with proven track records of integrity.
“Many of them come from backgrounds in security with broad experience in the public and private sectors.”
In his remarks, the BoT Chairman urged the people of Zamfara to work together to overcome the security challenges.
According to him, “We are doing this for the future of Zamfara State.
“We must all come together to support this fund with the little we can.
“There is no time for sleeping now; we have to wake up.
“I want to reassure you about our commitment; we shall do our best regarding safety and security.”
Some other members of the BoT include “the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmed, Col. Bala Mande (Rtd), Brig-Gen. Abdulkadir Gummi, Brig-Gen. L.B. Mohammed, Ambassador Bello Anka, Mrs Lubnah Muhammad Gusau, Faruku Sambo Gusau, State Chairman, Local Security Outfit, Representative of the Ministry of Justice, Rep of Ministry for Internal Security, Representative of the Ministry of Finance, Representative of Ministry for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, and Representative of State Bureau for Public Procurement.
The others are representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Service, the Representatives of Nigeria Security, and the Civil Defence Corps, among others.