Zamfara: Ransom payments empowering bandits to buy weapons- Gov Lawal
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, on Monday, vowed never to negotiate with bandits in the state. Lawal said Nigerians are empowering bandits when they pay ransom for their kidnapped relatives. Speaking during a media chat in Gusau, the state capital, the governor said the bandits use ransoms collected to purchase weapons. According to Lawal, […] Zamfara: Ransom payments empowering bandits to…
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal shared his optimism about the state's progress on Thursday, marking the joint celebration of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and Zamfara State’s 30th anniversary. Lawal emphasized the state’s progress in overcoming insecurity and rebuilding its economy through various reforms and interventions.
The Zamfara administration tackled insecurity by establishing and operationalizing the Community Protection Guard (CPG) to complement conventional security agencies. Progress has been made in restoring calm to some local government areas, with displaced residents returning to their ancestral communities. Lawal also acknowledged the sacrifices of those who lost their lives and were displaced during the security crisis.
In education, the government declared a state of emergency and introduced a 120-day Rapid Intervention Action Plan. Infrastructure assessments were conducted, and an executive order on education reform was signed to improve financing, school safety, and students' welfare. Healthcare facilities across the 14 local government areas were renovated, and solar power systems were installed to ensure uninterrupted electricity and safe vaccine storage.
Agricultural efforts have focused on wet-season farming, with over 70,000 bags of fertiliser and improved seeds distributed to farmers. High-value investments, including a multi-million-dollar lithium mining and processing factory, have been welcomed to boost resource development and job creation.
The judiciary has also been modernized with automation to facilitate faster access to justice. Lawal urged citizens to contribute to the state's development, remain vigilant, and support security agencies while putting aside political and sectarian differences. He expressed optimism that Zamfara would emerge as a modern, economically vibrant state in the North-West and Nigeria, celebrating the 66th Independence Anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation.
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