State development
Gov Dauda Lawal Flags Off 2026 Wet-Season Farming, Distributes 72,000 Bags of Free Fertiliser to Zamfara Farmers
The Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr Dauda Lawal P.hD has launched a landmark agricultural intervention programme in Zamfara State with the distribution of over 120 truckloads of fertilisers and essential farm inputs to smallholder farmers across the state as part of preparations for the 2026 wet-season farming cycle.
The official flag-off ceremony was held yesterday Friday 11th of July at the Trade Fair Complex in Gusau, the state capital, drawing a large turnout of farmers, traditional rulers, agricultural extension workers and government officials who gathered to witness what the governor described as a turning point in the state’s quest for food security and self-sufficiency.
The comprehensive package distributed to farmers includes 72,000 bags of high-quality fertiliser, 200,000 litres of herbicides to combat weeds and pests, 100 crop residue crushers to help farmers prepare their land more efficiently, 100 grass choppers for livestock feed production, 100 feed milling machines to support animal nutrition, improved pasture seeds aimed at boosting livestock farming, 20 motorcycles to enhance the mobility of agricultural extension agents and 20 mobile phones designated for those same agents to facilitate real-time communication and data collection in the field. The distribution is structured to ensure equitable access across the state, covering all 147 political wards spread across Zamfara’s 14 Local Government Areas. Each ward is receiving 340 bags of fertiliser, while each Local Government Area is allocated 8,000 litres of herbicides, ensuring that no community is left behind in the intervention.
In his address to the gathering, Governor Lawal delivered a passionate speech about the central role of agriculture in Zamfara’s history, culture and economy. He reminded the audience that Zamfara State has long been recognised as one of Nigeria’s agricultural strongholds, blessed with vast, fertile land and a population of hardworking farmers whose livelihoods have for generations depended on the soil. He stressed that farming is not merely an economic activity but a fundamental part of the people’s identity, heritage and resilience and that it holds the key to inclusive growth, sustainable development and the fight against poverty, banditry and crime that have plagued the state in recent years. The governor articulated a clear vision of shifting Zamfara’s agricultural sector from subsistence-based practices to a productive, technology-driven and market-oriented system that can compete on a national scale. He outlined plans to unlock farmers’ potential through improved access to inputs, widespread mechanisation, expansion of irrigation schemes, robust extension services, adoption of climate-smart farming methods and the creation of strong market linkages that would guarantee fair prices for produce.
Governor Lawal also took the opportunity to highlight the improving security situation across the state, noting that as peace gradually returns to more communities, farmlands are being reopened, displaced families are returning to their homes and agricultural activities are resuming at an encouraging pace. He emphasised that his administration’s responsibility is to sustain and accelerate this progress by providing the necessary support, infrastructure and enabling environment for farmers to thrive. He pointed to the state government’s strengthened collaboration with the Federal Government, development partners and international organisations, citing the timely payment of counterpart funds as evidence of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that Zamfara fully benefits from critical agricultural interventions. He further reeled off a list of ongoing programmes that have already made a tangible difference, including FADAMA III, NG-CARES, SPIN, ZACADEP, SAPZ and various IFAD-supported initiatives, through which thousands of farmers have received improved seeds, fertilisers, agrochemicals, irrigation facilities, farming equipment and modern agricultural knowledge.
The governor further underscored the state’s push for mechanisation and private-sector investment by referencing the newly established Zamfara State Agriculture Hub in Kwatarkwashi, Bungudu Local Government Area, which he described as a concrete demonstration of the administration’s long-term vision. He called on farmers to make the best use of the inputs provided, assuring them that the government would continue to monitor the distribution process to prevent diversion or mismanagement. He concluded by reaffirming that his administration’s commitment to agricultural revival is backed not by empty promises but by deliberate, measurable action and that the ultimate goal is to reposition Zamfara State as a major contributor to Nigeria’s agricultural economy and a model for other states grappling with similar challenges. The event ended with farmers expressing gratitude and optimism, with many describing the intervention as the most comprehensive they had received in years, giving them renewed hope for a bountiful harvest in the coming season.
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.
State development
Governor Dauda Lawal Reshuffles Cabinet, Harps on Strengthening Governance Efficiency
His Excellency, Dr. Dauda Lawal, Executive Governor of Zamfara State, has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle involving three Honourable Commissioners as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance and enhance service delivery across the State.
Announcing the development, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, stated that the redeployment is aimed at strategically repositioning key Ministries for greater efficiency and effective implementation of the Administration’s Rescue Agenda.
The affected Commissioners are:
I. Hon. Abdulrahaman Tumbido, redeployed from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources;
II. Hon. Kasimu Yahya Kaura, redeployed from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; and
III. Hon. Tasiu Musa Shinkafi, redeployed from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The redeployment takes immediate effect.
Governor Lawal has directed the affected Commissioners to ensure a smooth transition and complete all necessary handing-over processes within one week.
The Governor further charged them to bring renewed vigour, dedication, and innovation to their new assignments, while remaining focused on delivering tangible benefits to the people of Zamfara State in line with the objectives of the Rescue Agenda.
His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has officially approved the sum of N3.2 billion for the complete renovation, accreditation, and commencementof academic activities at the Zamfara State School of Nursing and Health Sciences, located in Zurmi Local Government Area. This was confirmed in an official statement released marking a major intervention in the state’s ailing healthcare education sector, which has suffered years of neglect and infrastructural decay.
According to government sources, the funds will be channeled into three critical areas: the overhauling of lecture halls, administrative blocks, student hostels, and practical demonstration labs to meet modern standards; the settlement of regulatory fees and implementation of curriculum upgrades required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN); and enabling the school to admit its first batch of students in over five years, with a focus on midwifery, community health and general nursing. Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Health described the approval as a new chapter in healthcare manpower development, noting that the Zurmi school has remained non-functional for nearly a decade due to poor infrastructure and loss of accreditation.
Governor Dauda Lawal is not just renovating a school but rebuilding the backbone of primary healthcare delivery in Zamfara, adding that without trained nurses and community health workers, the state’s hospitals cannot function and that this N3.2 billion investment will change the narrative.
Residents of Zurmi and prospective students have greeted the news with excitement, with many having lost hope of ever seeing the institution reopen. Governor Dauda Lawal, who has made health sector revitalization a cornerstone of his administration, was quoted as saying that his government remains committed to accessible, quality education and healthcare across all 14 local government areas of the state, adding that no Zurmi child should travel hundreds of kilometers just to become a nurse. The state government has issued a directive to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to ensure the project is completed within nine months, with accreditation visits scheduled to begin before the end of the current fiscal year.
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