How Governor Lawal Won Back Investors’ Confidence For Zamfara

By Suleman Ahmad Tudu

According to NBS data compiled by TheCableIndex, Nigeria recorded a total capital importation of $129.68 billion between 2014 and 2025. Yet, I observed that Zamfara State did not attract any major foreign investment within the period. This is more worrisome given the state’s agricultural potential and vast mineral deposits, many of which are in high demand globally.

Like many other states, Zamfara also spent huge amounts of money on foreign trips, trying to “woo foreign investors”. Unfortunately, these efforts yielded no results, and the capital continued to bypass the state, largely because investors perceived the state as too risky and unready for serious investment.

However, that narrative appears to have changed. The jinx that kept capital away from Zamfara has finally been broken by Governor Dauda Lawal. On Saturday, July 11, the governor unveiled the $200 million Zamfara Lithium Mining and Processing Plant operated by ZAM Mining Co. Ltd in Boko Village, Zurmi LGA. The plant is a joint investment by Chinese firm Jinlide Co. Ltd, Bima Mines, and other partners.

This landmark achievement is the outcome of Governor Lawal’s deliberate effort to disrupt the status quo and unlock the state’s God-given treasure for all citizens. For years, the status quo was that the state government stayed on the sidelines while illegal miners smiled to the banks, and their informal activities worsened insecurity and environmental hazards across the mining communities.

These concerns may be part of what informed the decision of the federal government to place a complete ban on mining activities in Zamfara State. The decision was, however, reviewed and reversed in December 2024.

Even before the federal ban was lifted, Governor Lawal’s administration took its first step to regulate mining by signing an Executive Order on mining consent in January 2024. The order revoked all mining consent letters previously issued by traditional rulers and barred them from issuing new ones. Under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining laws, such consent from landowners and occupiers is required before mining, and the Mining Cadastre Office often relies on traditional rulers to validate ownership to avoid conflicting claims.

Due to the fact that investment is a coward and avoids volatile areas, Governor Lawal prioritized tackling the decades-long security challenges in the state. Among many other security interventions, he established the State Security Trust Fund, set up Community Protection Guards, mobilized hunters into a hybrid security force, and procured advanced security equipment and surveillance technology. The measures have drastically reduced insecurity, weakened bandits, and created a more stable environment for investment.

Also, to ease doing business in the state, Governor Lawal delivered a state-of-the-art international airport to connect Zamfara to the world. He further prioritized infrastructural development across the state, providing the critical backbone needed for investments to thrive.

Having put the enabling environment in place, the administration then launched a targeted drive to ‘woo foreign investors’ once more. Especially in the mining sector, where Zamfara holds a very competitive advantage.

In February 2026, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, led the state delegation to the Mining Indaba held in Cape Town, South Africa, and showcased Zamfara’s mineral potential. This $200 million lithium mining and processing investment is a direct outcome of that engagement. It is therefore safe to say, “kwalliya ta biya kuɗin sabulu” (the effort has paid off).

The investors are now on the ground in Zamfara. They explored the soils and assessed the potential. More importantly, they have seen the uncommon government commitment firsthand. That built their confidence, and the rest is now history.

Beyond the rhetoric, what does this $200m investment mean for the ordinary citizen of Zamfara? How does it translate to tangible development?

One of the immediate benefits of this investment is job creation. The plant is projected to create about 2,000 jobs, with local indigenes given priority. This will reduce unemployment and, by extension, the crime rates across the host communities.

Another benefit is increased revenue for both federal and state governments. The company will pay about 5% royalty on the total value of lithium produced to the federal government. It will also pay 30% Company Income Tax annually, in addition to the 7.5% VAT. All these revenues will go into the Federation Account.

As a mineral-producing state, Zamfara will first receive 13% derivation from the total revenue generated by the investment. The remaining 87% will be shared across all tiers of government, with Zamfara also included. Furthermore, the state will also earn additional revenue through PAYE from the company’s workforce. This money goes into the state treasury to finance critical projects in education, health, road infrastructure, and security.

And given Governor Lawal’s track record of prudence with public resources, the impact will definitely be felt by the people across the state.

Tudu is the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Office of the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government