Dauda Lawal

a Dauda Lawal (born 2 September 1965) is a Nigerian banker and politician who is the governor of Zamfara state. He was elected under the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections defeating the incumbent Governor Bello Matawalle of the APC.

He is also a banker,[1] and served as the executive director, Public Sector North, of First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Quotes

• “If Africa is to realize its potential fully, we must recognize that development is not just a matter of national policy; it is also a function of sub-national action.
• Absolutely. Within two months, we will commission new general hospitals in Sifawa and Fifi. These are entirely new buildings. I visited one of the old general hospitals and was appalled. No human person would allow even an animal to be treated there.
• That is outdated information. The security narrative is changing. Things have improved significantly. You are a journalist — look at the data. Compare incidents of kidnapping and killings now to two years ago. The drop is clear.
• My vision is to ensure no Zamfara citizen needs to leave the state for medical care. With what we are building, that is becoming a reality.
• “Sub-national Governments are the places where farmers cultivate the crops that feed nations, where mining operations either succeed or fail, where young people seek opportunities, and where investors look for clarity, stability, and fair return. This is why my presence here as Governor of Zamfara is not incidental, but deliberate. It underscores the fact that Africa’s renaissance will be driven as much by its States and provinces as by its capitals.”on African-Canada trade
• I set up a team of experts to assess health facilities across all local government areas. Their findings called for urgent action. We started in Nasarawa town by transforming a primary health centre into a full general hospital — the first of such in Zamfara. We repeated this process in Maradun, Maru, Kauran Namoda, and Buzu, where I was born.
• The most significant milestone so far is the hospital commissioned by Obasanjo. We installed brand-new equipment, including the latest CT scan and MRI machines — the best in the country. Obasanjo was amazed. We now have a full radiology unit capable of delivering results within minutes.
  • We also need trained personnel. To attract them, we reviewed doctors’ salaries to match the federal level. Buildings without manpower are useless. We are also investing in capacity-building. We have upgraded two nursing schools — one in Tsafe and the other in Birnin Magaji — adding new classrooms, hostels, lecture theatres, and modern teaching equipment.
• No human person would allow even an animal to be treated there. That was when I knew it truly was a rescue mission. But it’s not just about structures.
• Absolutely. Within two months, we will commission new general hospitals in Sifawa and Fifi. These are entirely new buildings. I visited one of the old general hospitals and was appalled.
• No. I’m not worried. I’m not desperate either. I’m contented. I’m PDP and I remain in PDP. If God says I will win again in 2027, no one can stop it.
• Every party has issues. Ours will be resolved. We have a NEC meeting scheduled for the 30th. Yes, there are technical hitches, but they will be fixed. I’m part of the reconciliation committee chaired by Senator Bukola Saraki. We are working through things. Nothing is insurmountable.
• Yes, I do. I experienced it in Zamfara. Despite all the powerful forces and federal might against me, I was elected. It was free and fair. And I believe it can happen again. It’s just a matter of time.
• They serve as the first line of defence. We have invested heavily—logistics, uniforms, kits, arms, vehicles—you name it. And I’m happy with the results. This initiative has restored hope to the people. There is a clear presence of government and security now.
• We recruited them from all local government areas because we believe in local solutions. Everything in Zamfara is local. There is no foreign intervention. These are our people, and they understand the terrain. Conventional security agencies also work with them because they know who these locals are, which helps operations.
• When I took office, I personally visited the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Defence Staff, and the NSA. I wanted to understand what the federal government was doing and identify areas for collaboration. My priority is to secure Zamfara, and I have received cooperation, though engagement must be ongoing because leadership in these agencies changes regularly.
• Regarding the Minister of Defence, yes, I have had meetings with him. I explained our situation, and he even visited Zamfara. We toured the affected areas together, and I believe he understands the gravity of the issues. His cooperation helps, but we must keep pushing. These security challenges have persisted for 13 years. We didn’t create them, but we inherited them and we must deal with them.

• As governor, I don’t just offer moral support; I assist financially, too. We provide fuel, logistics, and other resources to security agencies to help maintain law and order.
• It’s unfortunate, but we must be honest. We are one people—99.9% of Zamfara are Hausa-Fulani and predominantly Muslim. So why is this happening? From my investigation, it all started with a small misunderstanding between a Hausa man and a Fulani man. It wasn’t properly resolved, and one side felt justice was denied. In frustration, they attacked a village and killed two people, expecting the government to intervene. But nothing happened. That inaction emboldened them, and the crisis escalated.
• We need to stop the blame game. As governor, it doesn’t matter if someone is in PDP, APC, or doesn’t support me. Everyone in Zamfara is under my care. My duty is to protect their lives and property. So I’m making conscious efforts, whatever it takes, to restore peace. It’s not easy, but we will keep at it.
• Once a conflict like this is not quickly contained, it spirals. And sadly, most of the people affected are poor peasants, people with nothing. In the Niger Delta, militants fight over oil. Elsewhere, there are religious or ideological causes. But here, 99.9% of us share the same faith. What then are we fighting over?
• The truth is, most of these communities lack the basics – schools, water and healthcare. What does it cost to build a classroom? Or a borehole? It’s not much. So I told them, I will provide all of that, just give us peace.
• Security operations require funding, yet Zamfara gets one of the lowest federal allocations. How are you managing?
• We must invest in development if we want lasting security. My government is focused on providing these services. That is how we will change the narrative.
• You are right. We get one of the least allocations. But security is our top priority, followed by education.

• The CPG is effectively an internal security force. We provide everything—vehicles, salaries, helmets, bulletproof vests, fuel and uniforms. We’re almost there. It just needs to be formalised.
• You said you are on a rescue mission. But you are the governor of Zamfara. Are you saying your predecessor, Governor Matawalle, did nothing?
• Well, I wouldn’t say he did absolutely nothing. But it’s clear that things were not working. That’s why I described my administration as being on a rescue mission — to fix what was broken, to rebuild institutions, restore peace, and bring development to our people.
• As governors, we are called chief security officers, yet we lack command over security personnel. We live in these communities. We understand their dynamics. So, we should be able to direct responses to threats swiftly.