Date:
Setting the Record Straight: Zamfara State Government Dismisses Sahara Reporters’ Fabricated Loan Claims as Baseless “Clickbait” and Malicious Falsehood
GUSAU, ZAMFARA – The Zamfara State Government, under the exemplary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Dr. Dauda Lawal, today unequivocally condemns and refutes the latest malicious fabrication by Sahara Reporters concerning an alleged N34 billion loan under the current administration. The story, published on June 23, 2025, with the sensationalized headline “EXCLUSIVE: Budget Documents Expose Zamfara Governor Lawal’s False Claim of No Borrowing —N34 Billion Loans Recorded Under His Watch,” is not only a blatant fabrication but a classic example of Sahara Reporters’ notorious brand of reckless, misleading journalism and deliberate misinformation.
As the Honorable Commissioner for Information and Culture, I, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawas, wish to categorically set the record straight and urge the public to dismiss this baseless falsehood designed to tarnish the impeccable reputation of Governor Lawal’s transparent and fiscally prudent administration. Sahara Reporters has a well-documented history of peddling misinformation for sensationalism, as seen in their repeatedly debunked claims against public figures, including a 2021 retracted story about a northern governor that crumbled under scrutiny. This latest attack is yet another new low in their discredited legacy, reducing a once-respected platform to a megaphone of falsehoods and blackmail, peddling headline sensationalism without journalistic responsibility.
The facts are straightforward and verifiable:
- No New Loans Under Governor Lawal: Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Dauda Lawal has upheld a strict and unwavering policy of fiscal responsibility. This administration has neither sought nor secured a single new loan—domestic or international. This can be confirmed through verifiable records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) and all relevant financial institutions.
- Inherited Debt Obligations, Not New Borrowing: The N34 billion sensationally cited by Sahara Reporters refers explicitly to interest payments on legacy loans accrued by the previous administration under former Governor Bello Matawalle, who now serves as a junior minister for defence. These colossal loans, which shockingly left no visible development in Zamfara, are being diligently and responsibly serviced by the current administration to prevent further financial collapse, without incurring any new debt.
- Sahara Reporters’ Deliberate Misrepresentation: The report’s reference to the 2023 budget, which was prepared under Matawalle’s tenure, fundamentally misrepresents the N53.2 billion allocated for debt servicing as new borrowing. This exposes Sahara Reporters’ appalling lack of basic budgetary comprehension and their deliberate refusal to verify facts before publishing. Their so-called “exclusive” is not based on investigative rigor but on distortion and clickbait.
We challenge Sahara Reporters to produce any credible evidence—be it loan agreements, DMO records, or banking documents—that proves Governor Lawal’s administration sought or received any new loans. Their inevitable failure to do so will only reaffirm their status as purveyors of fake news and a platform that does the bidding of failed politicians.
Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration remains singularly committed to transforming Zamfara through prudent investments in security, education, and infrastructure, all without resorting to additional borrowing. The people of Zamfara are wise and will not be swayed by Sahara Reporters’ desperate attempts to sow confusion and create discord. We call on all citizens, responsible media houses, and stakeholders to rely solely on verified information and to reject this baseless report with the contempt it deserves.
Hon. Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Zamfara State
June 24, 2025
