In a significant diplomatic endorsement, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, on Thursday visited Governor Dauda Lawal in Gusau, Zamfara State, where the governor formally presented his administration’s comprehensive development blueprint aimed at rebuilding the state after years of banditry, economic instability, and governance deficit.

The visit, which lasted several hours, included closed-door talks at the Government House, a brief tour of ongoing infrastructure projects, and a joint press appearance. It marks the highest-level UN visit to the North-Western state in nearly a decade.

Speaking to reporters afterward, the UN Deputy Secretary-General commended Governor Lawal for what she called tangible progress in opening up Zamfara, noting that he had made the state more accessible not just in terms of roads but by creating an enabling environment for investors and development partners. She highlighted ongoing administrative reforms, including the digitization of revenue collection and steps to strengthen the civil service, as encouraging signs that Zamfara is moving toward greater stability, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Her remarks were particularly notable given the state’s recent history, as large parts of Zamfara were until last year no-go zones for international agencies due to banditry, kidnappings, and poor road networks.

During the meeting, Governor Lawal presented a 97-page document titled the Zamfara State Development Plan 2024 to 2028, which his aides have called the “Zamfara Rising” blueprint. The plan is built on four pillars: security and rule of law; economic revival focusing on agriculture and mining reforms; human capital development including rebuilding schools and health centers; and infrastructure with an emphasis on rural roads and digital access.

Governor Lawal said the document is not just a policy paper but a covenant with the people of Zamfara and an open invitation to the world. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with international partners, including the United Nations, to promote development, improve livelihoods, and attract more investment opportunities, adding that the state has moved from survival mode to development mode. Governor Lawal, a former banker who took office in May 2023, inherited a state that the World Bank had ranked among Nigeria’s poorest and least resilient, with his predecessor’s tenure marked by accusations of mismanagement and failed amnesty deals with bandits.

While security remains the greatest challenge and critics note that rural communities still face sporadic attacks, the UN Deputy Secretary-General’s visit signals cautious optimism. She revealed that the UN system will deploy a technical team to Gusau within 30 days to align the state’s development plan with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nigeria, and she hinted at a possible high-level donors’ conference for Zamfara later in 2026 that could attract funding from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and European Union.