In an update published by Vanguard, the Zamfara State government has announced a N125.4 billion investment for the construction and rehabilitation of 28 roads across its 14 local government areas. Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration intends for these projects to bridge the infrastructure gap between urban and rural communities, facilitating better movement of agricultural produce and enhancing internal security through improved accessibility.
The road projects are part of the state’s N871.3 billion 2026 budget, which prioritizes capital expenditure at a staggering 83%. This aggressive infrastructure drive is aimed at transforming the state’s economic landscape, which has been hampered by years of neglect and insecurity. The government has assured residents that the selection of the 28 roads was done based on economic impact and the need for regional connectivity.
Contractors have reportedly been mobilized to various sites, with a mandate to ensure high-quality delivery within the stipulated timelines. The state government has also set up a monitoring and evaluation team to prevent the issue of “abandoned projects” that has plagued previous administrations. For the people of Zamfara, this represents one of the largest infrastructure interventions in the state’s history.
The infrastructure push was also reported by Tribune and Daily Trust. Tribune commented that “The N125 billion road project is the cornerstone of Governor Lawal’s ‘Rescue Mission’ for Zamfara.” Daily Trust added, “Villagers in rural Zamfara expressed hope that the new roads would finally allow them to get their crops to market without the fear of being bogged down by mud or bandits.”
Echotitbits take:
Governor Lawal is betting big on the “build it and they will come” philosophy. By focusing on rural roads, he is directly addressing the logistics bottleneck that keeps Zamfara’s farmers poor. However, the success of these roads will depend entirely on the security situation; if the roads aren’t safe to travel, their economic value will be severely diminished.
Source: The Punch – https://punchng.com/how-n140-billion-ongoing-capital-projects-are-shaping-zamfara-official/, February 25, 2026
Photo credit: The Punch
