Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal P.hD has rolled out a major public welfare intervention distributing 50 subsidised buses to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and commissioning five modern fire trucks, in a move aimed at tackling transportation hurdles and strengthening emergency response across the state. The official handover ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Government House in Gusau, drawing leaders from the transport union, fire service officials and top government functionaries.

According to Governor Lawal, the buses are being provided under the Zamfara State Loan Scheme, a structured financing programme designed to promote economic empowerment while ensuring sustainability through cost recovery. Each bus was procured at ₦27,390,000, but the state government is absorbing 20% of that cost – amounting to ₦5,478,000 per vehicle – as a direct subsidy to ease the financial burden on beneficiaries.This means each NURTW member will repay ₦21,912,000 over a 44-month period, with repayment commencing from the date of vehicle allocation.

Crucially, the NURTW has entered into a partnership with the government to oversee the entire process, with the union responsible for identifying eligible members, supervising the use of the vehicles and ensuring strict compliance with the repayment schedule, a collaborative approach intended to minimise defaults and guarantee the scheme’s longevity.

In a parallel development, the Governor also commissioned five state-of-the-art fire trucks to reinforce the Zamfara State Fire Service, with the trucks equipped to modern standards and expected to significantly shorten response times during emergencies. Governor Lawal underscored the urgency of the investment, noting that fire outbreaks remain a persistent threat to lives and property in the state. “We are aware that fire outbreaks can destroy homes, shops and livelihoods in seconds,” he said. “These new fire trucks, equipped with modern standards, will strengthen the state fire service’s capacity to respond faster across all nooks and crannies of the State.”

He charged the Fire Service leadership to complement the equipment with rigorous personnel training, regular public fire-safety sensitisation campaigns and consistent maintenance to keep the trucks in optimal condition at all times. The Governor made it clear that all assets distributed belong to the people of Zamfara and must be treated with utmost care, directing all benefiting Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as individual beneficiaries, to submit quarterly maintenance and utilisation reports to their respective oversight offices.

He further issued a stern warning against any form of abuse, declaring that “vandalism, misuse or diversion will not be tolerated,” signalling the administration’s commitment to transparency and responsible asset management.

Governor Lawal framed the initiative as part of his broader agenda to uplift the state’s transportation sector, create economic opportunities for transport workers, and enhance public safety. By subsidising the buses, the government aims to ease the cost of commuting for residents while providing a sustainable livelihood for NURTW members, while the fire trucks are expected to reduce the devastation caused by infernos in both urban and rural communities. The combined investment reflects a multi-pronged strategy to address critical infrastructure gaps while fostering accountability and community partnership.

With the handover complete, the NURTW is expected to begin allocating the buses to qualified members in the coming days, while the Fire Service will deploy the new trucks across strategic locations in the state. The government has pledged to monitor progress closely through the quarterly reporting mechanism, with defaulters or abusers facing appropriate sanctions. This development marks one of the largest single interventions in the transport and emergency services sectors under Governor Lawal’s administration and stakeholders are watching closely to see how the scheme translates into tangible improvements for ordinary Zamfara residents.

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Thursday, clarified that the Federal Government had yet to approve Adire as the new uniform for members of the National Youth Service Corps, hours after his comments on the proposed change generated widespread reactions.

In a statement published on his official X handle, Olawande said reports suggesting that Adire had been adopted to replace the iconic khaki uniform misrepresented his remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

The minister explained that while he mentioned Adire and Ankara during the interview, they were only examples of proposals being considered as part of the ongoing reform of the scheme, adding that “No final decision has been taken on the fabric or design.”

“My intention was simply to cite examples of some of the proposals that have been put forward in the course of our consultations. It was not an announcement that any particular fabric has been adopted or approved to replace the current NYSC uniform,” he stated.

According to Olawande, the government is considering options that “tick all the right boxes in terms of professional outlook, a unique national identity, durability, functionality, cost-effectiveness, and the projection of national pride.”

He said any eventual decision would be guided by extensive stakeholder consultations and what best serves the interests of the NYSC and the country.

The minister also urged Nigerians not to allow the debate over the proposed uniform to overshadow the broader objectives of the ongoing reforms.

“The reforms are designed to make the Scheme more relevant to today’s realities by improving employability, promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening national integration, enhancing service delivery, and creating a smoother transition from education to productive careers.

“While conversations around the uniform are understandable, they should not overshadow the far-reaching reforms aimed at empowering millions of Nigerian youths and positioning the NYSC as a stronger platform for national development,” he said.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Federal Government planned to replace the NYSC’s traditional khaki uniform with locally produced Adire as part of sweeping reforms approved for the 53-year-old scheme.

Speaking on Channels Television, Olawande had said, “It’s Adire,” explaining that the move was intended to promote local textile production and keep government spending within the Nigerian economy.

The proposed uniform change formed part of the comprehensive overhaul of the NYSC approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, which also includes skills-based deployment of corps members, civilian operational leadership for the scheme and amendments to the NYSC Act

Zamfara State Government under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal has earmarked N7.2 billion for development projects across 375 communities in the state, under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), a World Bank-funded initiative. Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni disclosed this in Gusau on Tuesday while flagging off a free project implementation training programme for participants drawn from 158 communities across the state.

He explained that Governor Dauda Lawal had approved the N7.2 billion for various community development projects through the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), adding that the funds would finance projects spanning health, education, water supply, agriculture and drainage, among others, across the state’s 14 Local Government Areas. The deputy governor noted that the projects would be implemented by Community Project Monitoring Committees (CPMCs) under the supervision of the CSDA, and reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing social amenities to vulnerable communities.

Mummuni urged participants to ensure transparency and accountability in managing resources for project execution in their communities, describing the initiative as part of Governor Lawal’s administration’s effort to extend the dividends of democracy to the people, especially at the grassroots level. He expressed confidence that the training under CSDA would encourage community participation in project implementation, while also promoting transparency, accountability, and commitment to the development of their communities.

In his remarks, the General Manager of CSDA, Umar Nakwada, revealed that the participants were drawn from CPMCs responsible for monitoring projects in their communities, and that the training was designed to sensitise them on effective project implementation. He stated that the training covered Batch A projects worth N3.2 billion, spanning 158 communities, and assured that the agency would ensure effective monitoring of all projects to be implemented by CPMC members in benefiting communities. Nakwada also commended Governor Lawal for his unwavering support in improving the livelihoods of grassroots communities.

Also speaking, the State NG-CARES Coordinator, Mukhtar Ibrahim, praised the Zamfara Government for its commitment to supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable households. He explained that NG-CARES aims to expand access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms, focusing on three result areas: livelihood and social support, food security and agricultural value chain, as well as micro and small enterprises recovery. small enterprises recovery,” Ibrahim said.