Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called for a suspension of efforts to create additional states, arguing that the government should first make the existing 36 states financially and administratively viable.
Lawal made the position known in Gusau while interacting with media executives as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of Zamfara State.
He said the financial pressures facing many states had raised questions about whether creating more administrative units would achieve the development and governance objectives being advanced by proponents of state creation.
Zamfara was carved out of the old Sokoto State in October 1996 by the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha, with Gusau becoming its capital.
Reflecting on the impact of the state’s creation three decades later, Lawal acknowledged that the move had brought government closer to communities and contributed to employment and urban development.
However, he said the financial realities confronting states today warranted a rethink of further state creation.
“Having realised the financial challenges, even the states that have already been created now find it very difficult to function effectively because of finances,” he said.
The governor said the benefits of bringing government closer to the people must now be weighed against the ability of existing states to sustain their administrative structures and deliver services.
“So, I think it is something we need to really think through before we begin to agitate for the creation of additional states,” Lawal said.
His comments come against the backdrop of the ongoing constitutional review exercise, where the creation of new states has emerged as one of the major demands before the National Assembly.
The House of Representatives’ constitutional review process has received 56 requests for the creation of new states across the six geopolitical zones.
However, such proposals must satisfy stringent constitutional requirements before they can become reality.
Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution prescribes a detailed process for creating a new state, including support from affected federal and state lawmakers, local government councils and a referendum, among other requirements.
Lawal therefore urged policymakers to focus on strengthening the existing states rather than pursuing further fragmentation.
“But for me, for now, I think we need to put it on hold and let the existing states function effectively,” he said.
Despite his opposition to further state creation at this time, the governor said Zamfara’s experience demonstrated the benefits that could come from bringing government closer to previously underserved communities.
He said areas that had once been on the periphery of the old Sokoto State had benefited from the establishment of government institutions within the new state.
According to Lawal, Zamfara has recorded improvements in employment, urban development and other areas since its creation, although significant challenges remain.
He attributed part of the state’s development trajectory to the quality and priorities of successive administrations, noting that different governments had adopted different approaches to addressing its challenges.
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Lawal said his administration was focused on tackling longstanding shortcomings in infrastructure, education, healthcare and agriculture while also exploiting Zamfara’s economic potential.
He said the administration’s “Rescue Mission” was structured around six key areas: security, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and human development.
The governor claimed that implementation across the six-point agenda had reached between 60 and 70 per cent.
Beyond agriculture, Lawal said his administration was also working to develop Zamfara’s solid mineral sector, particularly its deposits of critical minerals.
“Today in Nigeria, if you speak about critical minerals, Zamfara is number one. We have seen it, tested it and we have the data,” Lawal said.
He said improved infrastructure and a more attractive investment environment were essential to unlocking the state’s economic potential and changing its public image.
Fiscal data also point to an improvement in Zamfara’s revenue position, although the state continues to depend substantially on public revenue transfers.
BudgIT’s 2025 State of States report, as published by the state government, showed that Zamfara’s total revenue increased from ₦144.95 billion in 2023 to ₦315.53 billion in 2024, while its internally generated revenue stood at ₦25.46 billion.
Lawal said the state’s economic opportunities reinforced the need to maximise the potential of existing states before creating additional administrative units.
“We need to make sure the ones that are already there are comfortable and are bringing the kind of development that people expect,” he said.