DIPLOMAN TIMES

The Zamfara State Government has signed a 20-year concession deal for the Stone Hedge Hotel in Abuja, dismissed an urban planning director over death benefit diversion, and extended school resumption by two weeks following a health advisory on diphtheria.

The Zamfara State Government has concluded a 20-year commercial concession agreement for the state-owned Stone Hedge Hotel located in Abuja. Commerce and Tourism Commissioner Alhaji Tasi'u Musa Shinkafi announced that the commercial asset was leased to Amara Ventures Limited following the lawful termination of a previous management lease due to persistent non-remittance of state revenues and physical facility degradation.

Enforcing strict anti-corruption standards within the civil service, Head of Service Alhaji Shehu Baraya announced the immediate dismissal of Dalha Umar Gummi, a Director with the Urban and Regional Planning Board. The official was terminated following a disciplinary investigation that established the unauthorized diversion of N3.89 million in death benefits intended for the rightful heirs of the late Isa Aliyu Gummi.

Enhancing institutional capacity across higher education, Governor Dauda Lawal distributed official operational vehicles to Vice-Chancellors and Governing Council Chairmen of state tertiary institutions, including Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara, and Federal University Gusau. Concurrently, Commerce Commissioner Shinkafi issued a strict completion deadline of January 31, 2027, to FeldMark Construction Company Limited for the ongoing construction of the Ultra-Modern Motor Park in Gusau.

In response to a public health advisory regarding a localized diphtheria outbreak, the Ministry of Education announced a mandatory two-week extension of basic school resumption, shifting the academic calendar start date to September 28, 2026. The delay enables public health teams to conduct contact tracing, administer routine immunizations, and execute decontamination protocols across schools.

The Zamfara State Government reiterated that enforcing public finance discipline, recovering state assets, upgrading educational infrastructure, and protecting public health are core elements of Governor Dauda Lawal's administrative agenda to restore governance integrity across the state.