Gov Lawal presents N861bn 2026 budget to Zamfara Assembly

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has presented the 2026 budget proposal of N861bn before the state House of Assembly.

Presenting the proposal on Thursday, he said the 2026 recurrent expenditure proposal of N147bn takes 17% of the proposed budget, while N714bn is for capital expenditure.

The governor asserted that, “the heart of this budget, and indeed the heart of the rescue mission, is our Capital Expenditure Plan.

“The 2026 proposal of seven hundred and fourteen billion naira (which is 83% of the budget) marks a historic commitment to rebuilding infrastructure, strengthening security, revitalising agriculture, and expanding opportunities for our youth.

“International development frameworks, including those advanced by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), recommend that states pursuing accelerated recovery and growth allocate at least 40% of the budget to capital development.

“Zamfara’s planned allocation surpasses this threshold by a wide margin, reflecting a deliberate and strategic choice to invest boldly in the future rather than merely manage the present.

“Under my leadership, Zamfara is moving away from a consumption-driven model to a development-driven economy, one that prioritises schools, hospitals, roads, energy and economic empowerment.

“This budget is not just a document; it is a statement of intent, a roadmap of hope, and a pledge to ensure that the rescue mission delivers tangible progress for every citizen in Zamfara State.

“Mr. Speaker, I am mindful of the trust reposed in our administration. My background of decades in the financial sector has shaped my conviction that sound financial management, disciplined fiscal policy, and strategic investments are the bedrock of economic transformation and sustainable development for our people.

“In line with that conviction, the 2026 budget proposal is not merely a ledger of revenue and expenditure; it is a blueprint for economic renewal.

“Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, we must address the big elephant in the room, Security. For years, Zamfara has battled with criminality, banditry, and armed breakdown of social order in some communities.

“The lives and dignity of our people are not negotiable. In the 2026 budget proposal, we continue to prioritise resources for community-level security, supporting our local vigilante structures in coordination with federal security agencies, and deploying modern technology for surveillance, early-warning systems and intelligence gathering.

“I humbly submit to this Honourable House the 2026 Budget Proposal of 861,337,000,000 for your careful consideration and approval.”

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