The Executive Director of the Patriots for the Advancement of Peace and Social Development, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has demanded a full account of the Zamfara State Gold Reserve Initiative, raising concerns over the whereabouts of gold assets reportedly acquired by the state government between 2020 and 2023.
Shinkafi made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday amid renewed public interest in gold transactions following the arrest of an aviation security officer by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged attempt to smuggle gold worth more than N4.4bn out of Nigeria.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspect allegedly concealed 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars while attempting to evade security checks at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Reacting to the development, Shinkafi said questions surrounding the Zamfara gold reserve programme had remained unanswered years after its launch.
He recalled that on October 24, 2020, 31 kilogrammes of gold and precious stones were presented to former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as assets acquired by the Zamfara State Government to strengthen its financial base.
The activist noted that nearly three years after the administration that initiated the programme left office, there had been no public disclosure regarding the quantity of gold purchased, its present location or whether the assets were formally transferred to the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal.
He said citizens had a constitutional right to demand accountability from public office holders, stressing that public resources must be managed transparently.
Shinkafi called for the publication of records showing the total volume of gold acquired under the initiative between 2020 and 2023, the quantity handed over to the current administration and whether the assets were reflected in official handover notes and transition committee reports.
He also requested details of the current value of the reserves, the financial institutions where they were kept and the identities of miners and companies involved in supplying the gold.
The civil society leader further questioned how the state government engaged in gold procurement despite the Federal Government’s suspension of mining activities in Zamfara from 2019 due to insecurity and illegal mining concerns.
He demanded the release of certificates of origin and ownership for the gold presented in 2020, as well as evidence of compliance with mining regulations and approvals granted to suppliers.
According to him, the matter has become more significant given that the 31 kilogrammes of gold showcased in 2020 are now estimated to be worth about N5.95bn.
Shinkafi also recalled the controversy that greeted the initiative, noting that some governors from the South-South region opposed the scheme, while former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, maintained that mineral resources remained under the exclusive control of the Federal Government.
He gave the Zamfara State Government a 14-day ultimatum to make public relevant handover notes and transition committee reports relating to the acquisition and custody of the gold reserves.
Shinkafi warned that failure to disclose the documents would compel the group to petition anti-corruption and security agencies, including the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the Office of the National Security Adviser for a comprehensive investigation.
He added that sustained public scrutiny of elected officials remained essential to promoting transparency, accountability and public trust in government institutions.
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