THE ZAMFARA STATE RENEWAL: HOW GOVERNOR DAUDA LAWAL IS RESHAPING THE STATE FROM CRISIS TO HOPE.
By: Dr. Aisha Mohammed Shakur (PhD)
+234 811 338 2340
Abuja, Nigeria
When I journeyed into Zamfara State recently, I entered a land that long bore the scars of insecurity, neglect and despair. Towns had emptied, farms were abandoned, schools had closed, hospitals were dysfunctional, and hope had dimmed. But today, a different Zamfara is beginning to emerge. A Zamfara of reconstruction. A Zamfara of possibility. A place where people once again believe in the promise of a better tomorrow.
Over the course of a few days, I travelled across the state, from Gusau to remote communities, witnessing firsthand the transformation set in motion by Governor Dauda Lawal. What I saw convinced me that Zamfara State is undergoing one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging revival efforts among the states of Nigeria.
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This is the story of that transformation. It is a story of vision, deliberate policy choices, hard work and people reclaiming their dignity. Above all, it is a story of governance that prioritises service over rhetoric and results over noise.
Rebuilding Lives Through Education: Schools, Rehabilitation and Opportunity
My first stop was at one of the schools renovated under the state’s ambitious educational revitalisation drive. As I stood before classrooms with fresh paint, rows of new desks, functioning blackboards and windows that let in light and air, I was struck by how different this school looked compared with reports of decrepit buildings and collapsed walls from only a few years ago.
Under the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal, educational recovery has become central to the broader rescue agenda. Through the programme supported by the Zamfara AGILE Project, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, the state has completed the first phase of renovating one hundred and seventy-four schools and non-formal learning centres in areas now accessible through improved security.
That number is already impressive, but what struck me even more was the inclusion of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, as well as new classroom furniture. The renovated schools were supplied with nearly ten thousand three-seater desks.
The AGILE project targets a total of three hundred and twenty schools. At the time of my visit, two hundred and fourteen had already been earmarked for intervention. In one of the classrooms, a teacher showed me textbooks and learning materials delivered under the School Improvement Grants. She told me that teaching and learning conditions had improved dramatically. Students now sit comfortably. They no longer share broken desks or write on cracked slates. For many children, especially girls, this revival means renewed hope, a reason to stay in school and a chance to dream again.
Education is not the only sector benefiting from Lawal’s restructuring. During a statewide inspection tour in early 2025, the governor personally visited ongoing road projects, the construction site of the upcoming airport, school renovations and hospital rehabilitation work in Gusau. His presence underscored a key message: no project is too remote, and no community too forgotten, to be left out of the rescue mission.
Health for All: Reviving Health Facilities, Hospitals, and Public Trust
As I journeyed through towns, one of the most visible signs of change was in health centres that had languished for years. I visited general hospitals that had been completely renovated, equipped and reopened. In communities that once had no functioning health facility, pregnant women, sick children, and patients with chronic illnesses now have access to care.
Governor Lawal’s administration declared a state of emergency in the health sector shortly after he assumed office, recognising that the state’s health infrastructure was in near collapse. In just over one year, the government commissioned fully renovated general hospitals across several zones, including Gusau, Anka, Maru, Maradun, Kaura Namoda and Nasarawa Burkullu.
These hospitals are not empty buildings. They now have Accident and Emergency units, Special Care Baby Units, maternity wards, radiology departments, dental clinics, orthopaedic wards and fully functional operating theatres. In Anka, for instance, a new laboratory, emergency services, refurbished wards, pharmacy blocks and staff quarters made the facility appear like a modern city hospital.
I met nurses, doctors and health workers who spoke with renewed pride. They said the stress of working without equipment or basic utilities had been eliminated. Instead, they now had functional tools, reliable electricity and a sense that their service mattered. For a state once described as medically underserved, this is nothing short of revolutionary.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the government’s effort is restoring public trust. People told me that they now visit hospitals as their first point of care instead of relying solely on traditional remedies or travelling for hours outside the state. For mothers and children especially, this shift represents safer childbirths, better preventive care and greater hope.
Roads, Infrastructure and Wider Connectivity: Linking Communities for Growth.
During a drive from Gusau to Magami, I noticed a changing landscape. New roads had been carved through what used to be difficult bush paths. Bridges had replaced culverts that often washed away during the rainy season. Communities that were once isolated are now connected. Markets are active again. Farmers transport their produce with ease. Neighbours visit one another. Life is flowing again.
This transformation is intentional. Since 2024, the administration has approved major road reconstruction projects worth over forty-four billion naira. These plans include the dualisation of the Unguwar Gwaza Roundabout to Gusau Airport Road, which spans ten kilometres, and another major road linking Daza Road to the Kaura Namoda to Gusau to Sokoto highway.
Beyond these major roads, township roads in nearly every local government area are being reconstructed. According to state officials, more than one hundred and forty billion naira worth of projects covering roads, education, water supply, health and commerce are being executed across all fourteen local government areas of Zamfara State.
Infrastructure improves more than transportation. It affects livelihoods.
Farmers can move their produce efficiently. Traders can transport goods across the state. Children can travel to school safely. Patients reach hospitals more quickly. Most importantly, infrastructure signals that Zamfara is investing in its foundation for growth.
During an inspection in March 2025, Governor Lawal also visited the construction site of the Zamfara International Airport. The airport, with plans for a modern runway and terminal building, reflects a long-term vision of connecting Zamfara State to the wider world, enabling commerce, trade and mobility.
Reviving Agriculture: Seeds, Fertilisers and the Return of Zamfara’s Breadbasket Potential.
Walking through the farmlands near Birnin Magaji, I saw hope sprouting again. Farmers, once displaced or discouraged by insecurity, are returning to their lands. Their fields now show clear signs of revival, with seedlings carefully transplanted and patches of green breaking the dusty landscape.
Under Governor Lawal, the state has made a bold push to revive agriculture as a pillar of economic recovery. The distribution of farming inputs has been massive. The government has provided thousands of bags of fertiliser, improved rice and maize seeds, herbicides, insecticides and seed dressing chemicals to farmers across the state.
This intervention has had immediate results. Farmers said that for the first time in years, they expect significant yields this season.
Many admitted that without the governor’s support, they would not have attempted planting this year. For families that have endured years of hunger and economic hardship, this renewed sense of productivity is transformative.
Beyond farm inputs, the government is facilitating secure access to farmland, an essential step in a state where insecurity had displaced thousands. Zamfara is returning to its place as a key contributor to national food security.
Governance, Civil Service Reform and Fiscal Discipline: Restoring Institutional Credibility
Infrastructure and development matter only when government institutions work. For years, Zamfara State’s public service suffered from unpaid salaries, pension arrears and low morale. That changed with Governor Lawal. He prioritised clearing backlogged salaries, restoring the minimum wage and stabilising the public service.
In addition, the government undertook structural reforms in the civil service. Through a competency-based promotion system, twelve permanent secretaries were appointed strictly on merit, a step many described as long overdue. The state secretariat complex was also renovated to provide dignified and functional workspaces for civil servants.
This restoration of dignity and capacity is foundational. It signals the return of an efficient and accountable government, one capable of delivering services, responding to citizens and sustaining long-term development.
Innovation and Digital Governance: A New Zamfara Emerging on the Digital Map
One morning, I visited the state’s technology agency and discovered that Zamfara State is quietly becoming one of Nigeria’s most forward-looking digital states. Under Lawal’s leadership, the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency is digitising the civil service, installing electronic filing systems, introducing official government email accounts and merging payroll with verified nominal rolls to reduce waste, duplication and ghost workers.
The ambition does not stop there. In June 2025, Zamfara State launched the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework, aimed at expanding digital capacity among youths, women, students and civil servants. Participants received training, devices and even startup grants to support entrepreneurship and digital engagement.
In partnership with a leading technology firm, the state has trained thousands of youths in cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence and other digital disciplines. This is the foundation of a new future for Zamfara’s younger generation.
This shift is profound. Zamfara State is no longer simply rebuilding its past. It is actively building a digital future where young people gain valuable skills, competitive opportunities and the capacity to participate in a rapidly changing global economy.
Social Welfare, Security and Inclusive Development: Making Government Work for the People
Good governance is not measured only by large projects. It is about touching the everyday lives of ordinary people. During my travels, I heard countless stories from residents whose lives had improved under the current administration.
In secondary schools, girls who once faced the risk of dropping out are now staying in school due to renovated hostels, improved classrooms and renewed community interest. In rural communities, for example, boreholes and expanded water supply projects are underway, bringing clean and safe drinking water to places long deprived of it. For many villages previously overlooked due to insecurity, these interventions represent restoration of dignity and hope.
The state government’s commitment to security, healthcare, education, agriculture, roads and economic empowerment reflects a holistic vision of development. It is a vision that recognises the interconnection between sectors and understands that progress in one area unlocks progress in others. The state House of Assembly, acknowledging these achievements, passed a unanimous vote of confidence on Governor Lawal.
Recognition has also come from beyond the state. The Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce recently honoured Governor Lawal for his community service, leadership and efforts to improve security and development in Zamfara. This recognition signals that the progress in Zamfara is not merely local. It is visible at national and international levels.
Challenges Remain, But the Path is Clear
During my visit, as I spoke to farmers, traders, students, civil servants, nurses and everyday residents, a recurring theme emerged. They spoke honestly about the challenges that remain. Some communities are still recovering from the trauma of conflict. Some roads and schools are still under construction. Some hospitals require additional staffing and equipment.
Security concerns persist in certain areas.
Yet, no one denied the change that has begun. Some called it a rebirth. Others described it as a renewal of faith. Across the state, the mood I observed was one of cautious optimism and hope.
What has made this possible is not rhetoric but tangible progress. Projects completed. Hospitals reopened. Schools renovated. Roads built. Farmlands restored. Governance reformed. Digital services introduced. These are not abstractions. They are living proof that Zamfara is rising.
Why This Matters for Zamfara State and Nigeria.
Zamfara’s transformation today serves as an important template for the nation. It proves that with determined leadership, holistic planning and commitment to inclusive development, even states long battered by insecurity and neglect can rebuild.
First, restoring education infrastructure ensures that the next generation of Zamfara’s children have a real chance at a brighter future. This enhances social cohesion, promotes economic growth and inspires intergenerational progress.
Second, improved healthcare reduces deaths from preventable conditions and builds trust in public institutions.
Third, improved road networks and support for agriculture strengthen livelihoods, create jobs and revive economic activity.
Fourth, digital governance and civil service reforms restore transparency and accountability, which are essential for public trust.
Finally, the inclusive nature of development ensures that no part of the state is left behind. This bridges the gap between rural and urban communities.
In a nation often divided by development inequality, Zamfara State’s progress stands as a reminder that leadership, planning and commitment can transform even the most challenged communities.
A Particular Echo: The Zamfara I Saw
At the end of my visit, I sat under a tree in a newly rehabilitated township, watching children playing near the roadside. Traders were unloading produce. Nurses stepped out of a newly refurbished hospital. Farmers loaded bags of fertiliser onto trucks. School bells rang across classrooms that had once been abandoned.
In that moment, I realised that Zamfara State is no longer simply a state attempting to recover from its challenges. It is a state aspiring to redefine itself. A state ready to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s future.
Governor Dauda Lawal is not a perfect leader. No leader is. But what distinguishes him is seriousness, commitment and a clear strategy that spans sectors. He leads with the determination to leave no community behind.
For those who once wrote off Zamfara State, who doubted its prospects, who believed it would always remain troubled, I say this: visit again. See the roads being built, the hospitals working, the schools revived, the farmlands producing, and the communities healing.
The journey is not yet complete. Much work remains. But the momentum is real. The direction is hopeful. And for Zamfara State, this is the beginning of a new chapter, one of resilience, renewal and rising potential.
(Democracy Newsline Newspaper, December 1st 2025)
