By Salisu Maradun

Gusau — The battle line appears drawn between Zamfara State Traders Union and the state Chamber of Commerce over alleged diversion of money given to the traders on loan by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele

Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Gusau, yesterday, chairman of the traders union, Alhaji Hamza Suleiman, said the money was released by the CBN to traders to enable them conduct their business activities, but lamented that the money was diverted by the officials of the state chamber of commerce.

Suleiman regretted that the chamber diverted the money advanced to the traders thriough the state’s investment company, describing the action as an injustice.

He said: “We had a meeting with the managing director of the state Investment Company, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, who told us that the company released the money secured by the state government as loan from the CBN for the traders union.”

He stressed that the traders had registered with the chamber and applied for the loan since last year, wondering why the chamber refused to inform them of any development up to the time the loan was released and collected.

He lamented that despite efforts by the traders’ associations over the matter and the existing good relationship between the chamber and the union, the chamber failed to inform them about the receipt of the funds.

Suleiman advised the management of the state chamber of commerce to always ensure justice, fairness and to make their activities open to its members to avoid any suspicion.

He also urged the chamber to explain where and how the money was used, adding that failure to do so would incur the wrath of the traders.

Contacted for comment, the Director-General of the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ZACCIMA, Alhaji Lawal Tsafe, denied collecting the loan, adding that the chamber did not receive any money for that purpose from the state investment company.