Zamfara State government appears set on a dangerous misplaced priority over economic development under Governor Dauda Lawal, as it sets aside N1 billion in its 2026 budget for the construction of what the governor described as “ultramodern cemeteries” across the 14 local government areas of the state. This comes at a period the northwestern state faces its worst mounting insecurity underlain by grinding poverty.
The cemetery allocation is listed under the state’s ministry of religious affairs, as part of the state’s N871.3 billion budget approved earlier this year, slightly above the initial N861 billion proposal.
Expectedly, the announcement has elicited a storm of criticisms, with many development experts decrying the move as insensitive, designed to set the state backwards, amidst persistent insecurity and grinding poverty.
Zamfara has one of the highest poverty rates in Nigeria, with recent data indicating a multidimensional poverty rate of 78 per cent. The state is consistently ranked among the top 10 poorest states in Nigeria. Extreme poverty is deeply intertwined with severe security challenges, including kidnapping, that affect the region.
Communities such as Kyaram and Gwargwaba continue to bear the brunt of deadly bandit attacks, kidnappings, and raids, leaving residents displaced or dead despite ongoing military operations.
Social commentaries paint a picture of frustration, with many describing the allocation as “tone-deaf”, accusing the government of “planning for more deaths”, instead of prioritizing urgent needs like security, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. Economic analysts note that the lack of transparency regarding the purpose of the cemetery funding, whether to expand burial infrastructure or accommodate cultural and religious practices, has only intensified public anger.
Zamfara’s insecurity is deep-rooted, with armed bandits terrorizing rural communities across all local government areas. Critics argue that the N1 billion could have been redirected toward proactive measures, especially considering that the state’s security budget in 2024 alone was N17.4 billion, and multi-year totals between 2023 and 2025 exceeded N31 billion.
Zamfara is ranked 32nd out of 36 states in Nigeria in terms of GDP, making the state among the poorest of the poor in the country.
Security experts suggest that targeted deployment of N1 billion could have meaningful impact in localized hotspots, such as surveillance and intelligence with deployment of medium-scale drones costing roughly N150 million each. The fund could acquire six to seven drones or a larger fleet of simpler models, including training and maintenance, bolstering early-warning systems and guiding rapid response operations.
Additionally, armoured patrol vehicles are costly, but the budget could secure two to four units or a larger number of modified pickups for rural patrols, enhancing mobility for security forces and vigilante groups. Also, community policing and vigilante support are essential to regional security. The allocation could provide stipends, training, motorcycles, communication gear, and basic arms for hundreds or over a thousand vigilantes for one to two years, alongside the establishment of community policing posts in high-risk areas.
Other potential uses include solar-powered CCTV networks, protective gear, and operational logistics. Yet, analysts caution that while such measures could improve security locally, N1 billion alone cannot fundamentally change the state’s security trajectory, which is driven by thousands of bandits, cross-border arms trafficking, illegal mining, kidnapping ransoms, and systemic governance gaps.
Critics stress that lasting solutions require investment in youth employment, education, and deradicalisation programs rather than reactive infrastructure alone. The controversy over the cemetery allocation underscores a broader governance challenge in Nigeria’s Northwest: citizens demand protection and preventive measures, not infrastructure that merely responds to the human cost of insecurity.
