By Tahir Rabiu Musa
Toro and Alkaleri local government areas, situated within the Bauchi South Senatorial District, are pivotal regions linking Bauchi State with neighboring Gombe and Plateau states. These areas are key to the agricultural advancement of the state. To facilitate transportation and boost commercial activities for rural communities, the federal government initiated a zonal intervention project aimed at distributing motorcycles to enhance mobility for all residents. Nonetheless, the distribution process has been tainted by political bias, favoritism, and nepotism, undermining the principles of equity and fairness.
This initiative, focused on the procurement and allocation of motorcycles, was executed under the auspices of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGS), the Border Communities Development Agencies (BCDA), and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN). Contracts for this project were awarded to Diamond Leeds Ltd, Jein Stalwart Ltd, and Ken Vic Moore Biz Ventures Nig Limited, targeting various communities in the Bauchi South Senatorial District.
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The scheme was championed by Senator Lawal Yahaya Gumau, representing the Bauchi South zone in the 10th Senate, who assumed his senatorial role following the election triggered by the passing of his predecessor, Senator Ali Wakili, in 2018. Senator Gumau, previously a representative for the Toro federal constituency in the lower chamber, served as a senator from 2019 to 2023.
Investigations by Hama Media revealed that Senator Gumau exerted influence over the distribution process, favoring his political adherents, party members, and affiliates within the All Progressives Congress, at the expense of the broader community members who stood to gain significantly from the initiative.
The intervention
Payment records from Govspend, a platform monitoring federal government expenditures, reveal that Ice Target Global Ltd was paid N16,688,246.25 on February 17, 2022, and N60,334,428.75 on December 7, 2021, by SMEDAN for the provision of motorcycles and tricycles within the constituency. Additionally, Ken Vic Moore Biz Ventures Nig Limited received N60,049,500.00 from SMEDAN on December 7, 2021, for a similar supply of motorcycles. The Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) also disbursed N70,387,526.87 for the purpose of youth empowerment through motorcycle distribution in the Bauchi South senatorial district.
Locals from Alkaleri, Bauchi, and Toro local government areas have reported that the senator orchestrated the distribution of motorcycles and tricycles among his political affiliates, presenting the initiative as a personal contribution. This approach predominantly benefited his loyalists, party officials, and close associates, thereby excluding the broader constituency population who were in dire need of such support to enhance their livelihoods.
Investigations indicate that the senator strategically allocated these resources to consolidate his political influence, favoring his inner circle and party functionaries. This tactic left many constituents feeling marginalized and overlooked, as only a select few with direct ties to the lawmaker reaped the benefits of the scheme.
Muaz Ali, a resident of Toro LGA, criticized the distribution process, stating, “He distributed them among his circle and used it as a campaign tool,” highlighting the perceived misuse of the intervention as a mechanism for political gain rather than community development
In rural and semi-urban areas, where tricycles and motorcycles are vital for everyday transport, many individuals engaged in the local motorcycle taxi industry were optimistic that the government’s initiative would bolster their operations. “For someone of modest means, motorcycles are often too expensive. I had hoped our association might benefit from this program,” Musa Haruna, a motorcycle taxi operator in Alkaleri, expressed to Hama Media.
Musa Adamu, another operator from Toro LGA, voiced his disappointment, stating, “To be honest, we, the ordinary people of this locality, haven’t seen any form of support, whether it’s motorcycles or anything else.”
Adamu highlighted the lack of any impactful intervention for the economically disadvantaged within the transportation sector in his area. “The only individuals who seemed to have benefited from this scheme were the party executives. Beyond them, I’m certain no underprivileged person received aid. Even among the party executives, I’m only aware of two people who received motorcycles, and these weren’t ordinary members but significant figures within the party,” he explained.
BENEFICIARIES ARE PARTY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS
Several recipients from the senatorial district acknowledged receiving motorcycles as part of the intervention. Zahraddin Adamu from Yalwan Tudu in Bauchi LGA, a beneficiary, revealed, “It turned out that the recipients were predominantly party members and supporters of the senator. That was the unwritten qualification.”
Zahraddin, a long-time supporter of Senator Yahaya Gumau, shared his experience: “I received a motorcycle from Senator Gumau. In my group alone, about 15 of us benefited. I’ve been with the senator for a long time, even serving as his driver during campaigns. This motorcycle was a reward for my loyalty and service.”
He explained that he received the motorcycle through his superior, who was also closely associated with the senator. “We had been hoping for job opportunities through our connection to the senator, but when this chance came, he chose to reward us for our dedication during his campaigns. If you’ve been loyal and dedicated to the senator, you were likely to be rewarded. Instructions were simply to go to a designated location for the distribution.”
“In some instances, a motorcycle was jointly given to five individuals, leading them to sell it because they couldn’t share it effectively,” he added, indicating the complexity of distributing such aid among multiple beneficiaries.
Zaharaddin Adamu, one of the beneficiaries standing in front of his motorcycles
Yakubu Ibrahim, residing in Sabon Gida, attributed his receipt of a motorcycle to his diligent campaign efforts for the senator. “My dedication to the senator’s campaign was recognized. The motorcycles, around 14 or 15 in total, were given to my boss, Alhaji Baba Sarkin Pawa, the senator’s campaign director general,” he explained. Yakubu, who eventually sold his motorcycle due to the high cost of fuel, was among those who benefited directly from their political work.
Ma’awiyya Abdullahi Miri, an active member of the senator’s social media team, also confirmed receiving not just a motorcycle but additional rewards including a laptop and a generator, which he donated to a local mosque. “My loyalty and contribution to the senator’s online presence were rewarded with these gifts,” he said.
In Alkaleri Local Government, the distribution of these items appeared to be limited to a select few, leaving the broader community unaware of the initiative. Danjuma Usman Alkaleri, a local provision store owner and youth leader, expressed his unawareness of such distributions, noting that he would likely have heard about it through his extensive network had it occurred broadly.
Adamu Idris Musa, from Anguwan Ajiya, mentioned knowing an APC member who received a motorcycle, suggesting some community members were indeed beneficiaries of the intervention.
Hamisu S. Fawa, a local butcher, pointed out that while some party members and religious groups have received motorcycles or vehicles, the broader community is still awaiting such support. “Those who actively support politicians are the ones who see the benefits,” he observed, indicating a targeted distribution based on political and organizational affiliation rather than community need.
Party Leaders Acknowledge Distribution Aimed at Key Supporters
A high-ranking official from the All Progressive Congress (APC), the party under which Senator Gumau served, confirmed that the distribution of motorcycles and other items was primarily for party loyalists and high-ranking officials.
Daiyabu Yunusa, an APC member, observed that while many resources were allocated to the local government, they were specifically handed out to dedicated party members. “I’m aware of individuals receiving support like motorcycles and other equipment. It seems they were rewarded for their commitment to the party,” he noted.
On the other hand, members from the opposition, including a PDP member named Surajo, pointed out their exclusion from the initiative. Surajo mentioned hearing rumors about APC members, particularly chairs and youth leaders, receiving the bulk of the benefits, leaving the broader community out.
Usman Aliyu, a PDP Zonal Chairman, expressed his unawareness of such interventions until now, emphasizing the partisan nature of the distribution. “We’re not part of their party, so it’s expected we wouldn’t benefit from their interventions,” he remarked.
Community leader Sambo Tilde criticized the political exclusivity of such distributions, suggesting that nonpartisan leaders should be involved or at least consulted in the process. Sani Ali, another community figure, lamented the lack of consultation with local leaders during the distribution, hinting at the misdirection of items to personal gains by politicians.
Investigations in Toro and Alkaleri Local Governments confirmed the targeted nature of the motorcycle distribution towards securing political loyalty, overshadowing the purported aim of supporting the constituency’s deserving individuals.
Authorities and Facilitator’s Response
Efforts to gain comments from the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals and the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria were met with silence, offering no clarification on the supervision of the distribution process.
Senator Lawal Yahaya Gumau, despite being approached for his comments on the allegations, remained unresponsive, with attempts to reach him via phone and messaging yielding no return.
However, Badamasi Abdullahi, an aide to the former senator, defended the distribution’s integrity, claiming it was conducted appropriately across Bauchi South Senatorial District, mentioning several communities as beneficiaries.
Contractors involved in the intervention, including Ken Vic Biz Ventures Nigeria Limited and Jein Stalwart Limited, along with Diamond Leeds Limited and Ice Target Global Limited, were unreachable or did not respond to inquiries regarding the criteria for beneficiary selection and distribution methodology.
This publication is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
