Shinkafi to Matawalle: Report on Zamfara Gold Reserve

By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA—Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, a former National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a candidate for the Zamfara North senatorial seat, has called for a complete account of the Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative that was launched during the tenure of former Governor Bello Matawalle. He seeks details on the quantity of gold acquired, its current location, and what was handed over to Governor Dauda Lawal in 2023.

Shinkafi’s demand has reignited scrutiny of the state‑backed gold reserve that was unveiled before former President Muhammadu Buhari. Questions now focus on the initiative’s present status, any transactions that occurred while a federal mining ban was in effect, and whether the assets were properly recorded in official handover documents.

The concerns were articulated in a statement signed by Shinkafi on behalf of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development.

“It is curious that three years after Bello Matawalle left office as governor of Zamfara State, nothing has been heard of his administration’s well‑publicised Gold Reserve Initiative,” the statement read.

The initiative attracted national attention in October 2020 when Matawalle presented 31 kilograms of gold and precious stones to then President Buhari, claiming the reserve had been acquired to strengthen Zamfara’s financial base.

The group estimated the current value of the 31 kilograms of gold at approximately N5.95 billion.

Shinkafi demanded details on the quantity and value of gold acquired under the initiative, its storage location, whether it was transferred to the succeeding administration, and the miners, companies, and licences involved in the purchases.

A key element of the challenge centers on the Federal Government’s suspension of mining activities in Zamfara between 2019 and 2025, a measure aimed at addressing insecurity and illegal mining.

“The Federal Government and security experts agreed that illegal mining of gold was one of the root causes of over a decade of armed banditry in Zamfara State,” Shinkafi said.

Against that backdrop, the group questioned how the government sourced gold from local miners while mining activities were officially suspended.

“In view of the Federal Government’s suspension of solid minerals mining from 2019 to 2025, who approved then Governor Bello Matawalle government’s engagement in gold trade which he claimed he bought from local miners?” the statement asked.

The group gave the Zamfara State Government 14 days to publish the handover notes and transition committee report related to the initiative, warning that failure to do so would prompt petitions to the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“We call on the current Zamfara State Government to publicly publish the handover note and transition committee report where gold purchased by Matawalle’s administration were stated and where the Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative is kept,” Shinkafi said.

“Take notice that failure to publish the said documents within 14 days, we will be left with no option but to report the same to the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU and NSA to thoroughly investigate the legality or otherwise of the Bello Matawalle government’s engagement in solid minerals at the time the Federal Government had suspended mining activities in Zamfara State,” Shinkafi added.

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