Zamfara’s 2025 budget allocates N550m for celebrations, N800m for governor’s travels amid development challenges

By solacebase.com On Mar 7, 2025

Zamfara, budget , celebrations, governor’s travels , — Zamfara Gov. Dauda Lawal

By Aminu Abubakar

A review of the Zamfara State 2025 budget by SolaceBase has revealed that the government has allocated a substantial N550 million for special days and celebrations.

The document further shows that N800 million has been earmarked for travels by the office of the governor. This includes N300 million for local travel and transport (others) and N500 million for international travel and transport (others). Additionally, the budget includes N100 million for donations expected to be made by the governor in the 2025 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor’s office has been allocated N157 million for travels and transport.

Budget Priorities Raise Questions Amid Developmental Challenges

While the governor’s office has allocated N550 million for celebrations, the budget for critical infrastructure remains significantly lower. Only N150 million has been earmarked for the rehabilitation and repair of water facilities.

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Despite the N800 million budgeted for the governor’s travels, the total amount allocated for repairs and rehabilitation of health centers stands at just N700 million.

In terms of water supply, the budget earmarks N595 million for the construction of water facilities. Specifically, N100 million is set aside for the construction and provision of boreholes, while N150 million is allocated for the installation of hand pumps.

These budgetary allocations come at a time when Zamfara State faces significant developmental challenges. Reports indicate that 44 percent of school-aged children in Zamfara lack access to education. Additionally, 79 percent of households in the state do not have access to sanitary facilities, while 51 percent lack access to clean drinking water.

Security Funding Falls Below Governor’s Travel Budget

Despite persistent insecurity in Zamfara State, the budgetary allocation for the Community Protection Guards, a local security initiative, stands at N698 million, which is lower than the N800 million set aside for the governor’s travels.

Zamfara has been one of the states most affected by insecurity in Nigeria. According to data from Statista, between 2011 and 2023, a total of 6,803 people were killed in Zamfara due to insurgency and terrorist activities.

In 2024, the Zamfara State government suspended the Commandant of the State Community Protection Guards, Colonel Rabiu Garba (retd).

The suspension was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Nakwada.

The statement read:

“This is to inform the general public that the Zamfara State Government has suspended Colonel Rabiu Garba from his position as the Commandant of the State Community Protection Guards. The suspension takes immediate effect.”

His suspension was linked to an interview in which he criticized the poor funding of the Community Protection Guards.

He stated that the government had failed to provide adequate funding for the corps’ activities, operations, and equipment

The budget allocations have raised concerns about the government’s spending priorities, especially given the state’s urgent needs in education, water supply, healthcare, and security