Zamfara State

Zamfara is a state in North-Western Nigeria. It was created from Sokoto State on the  1st October 1996 by the regime of General Sani Abacha. It was one of the last states to be created in Nigeria. Its capital city is Gusau. Historically, Zamfara was part of the Sokoto Caliphate after the Jihad of Shehu Danfodio. The state is bordered in the North by Niger republic through Shinkafi and to the South by Kaduna State. In the east, it is bordered by Katsina State through Tsafe and to the West by Sokoto and Niger States.

The state is well known for its farming activities which is the main occupation of the people in the state. It is also a peaceful and accommodating state.

Population of Zamfara State

The state has a population of 4,515,427 as of 2016, according to NBS projections.

Landmass

Zamfara has an area of 38,418 square kilometres, the 7^th highest in Nigeria.

Motto

Farming is Our Pride

Present Governor Of Zamfara state

The Incumbent Governor of Zamfara is Bello Muhammad Matawalle while his Deputy is Mahdi Aliyu Gusau elected under the banner of PDP in 2019. He later defected to the APC

Social Media Handles

Official Facebook Page

Instagram Page

Official Twitter Page

Trivia: Do you know that at 33, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau is the youngest deputy Governor in the history of Nigeria?

Commissioners in Zamfara State

The state has 19 Ministries and the commissioners were appointed in 2019.

Ministry                                                                                              Commissioner

Information and Culture                                                                        Suleiman Tunau

Agriculture and Natural Resources                                                      Aminu Suleiman

Youth Development and Sports                                                            Abdulkadir Buhari

Water Resources                                                                                      Junaidu Muhammad

Special Duties                                                                                    Muhammad  Maiturare

Women, Children and Social Development                                         Zainab Lawal Gummi

Higher Education                                                                                      Jamilu Zannah

Environment and Solid Minerals                                                            Nura Isah

Finance                                                                                                       Rabi’u Garba

Commerce Industry and Tourism                                                         Sufiyanu Yuguda

Budget and Economic Planning                                                              Ibrahim Jibo

Local Government and Community Development                            Yahayya Chado

Health                                                                                                          Yahayya Kanoma

Religious Affairs                                                                                         Tukur Sani-Jangebe

Work and Transport                                                                                  Ibrahim Isan Mayana

Rural Development and Cooperatives                                                   AbubakarTsafe

Justice                                                                                                          Nura Zarumi

Security and Home Affairs                                                                       Abubakar Dauran

Science and Technology                                                                           Bilyaminu Shinkafi

Former Governors

Jibril Bala Yakubu	Military Governor	7 Oct 1996 – May 1999
Ahmed Sani Yerima	Civilian Governor (ANPP)	29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi	Governor (PDP)	29 May 2007 – 29 May 2011
Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari	Governor (ANPP, APC)	29 May 2011 – 29 May 2019
Bello Matawalle	Governor (PDP,APC)	29th May 2019 – Date

Number of Local Governmentsin Zamfara State and Their Headquarters

The state has 14 Local Governments. The list of the Local Governments and their Headquarters are as follows:

S/N	Local Government	Headquarters
1.	Anka	Anka Town
2.	Bakura	Bakura
3.	Birnin Magaji/Kiyawa	Birnin Magaji/Magare
4.	Bukkuyum	Bukkuyum
5.	Bungudu	Bungudu
6.	Chafe (Tsafe)	Tsafe
7.	Gumi	Gumi
8.	Gusau	Gusau
9.	Kaura Namoda	Kaura Namoda
10.	Maradun	Maradun
11.	Maru	Maru
12.	Shinkafi	Shinkafi
13.	Talata Mafara	Talata Mafara
14.	Zurmi	Zurmi

Major Tribes and Ethnic Groups in Zamfara State

Hausa and Fulani are the Major tribes found in Zamfara. Other tribes and languages in Zamfara include Gwari, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa, Bussawa and Zabarma.

Tourist Attraction Sites in Zamfara

1. National Gallery of Art, Zamfara
2. Kuyambana Forest Reserve
3. Jifatu Shopping Mall
4. Kiyawa City Walls
5. Kalele hippopotamus ponds
6. Kwtarkwashi Rocks
7. Lake Natu
8. Bakalori Dam
9. Tomb of Namoda
10. Dashi Tunnel

Trivia: Kuyambana Forest Reserve was submitted as a nominee for UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Notable Figures and People From Zamfara State

1. Aishatu Madawaki, Academician
2. Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, Deputy Governor
3. Kabir Garba Marafa, Politician and former Senator
4. Sadiya Umar Farouq, Politician and Minister for Humanitarian Affairs
5. Abubakar Gumi, Religious cleric
6. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau, Former Chief of Army Staff and military officer
7. Lawal Hassan Anka, Politician and incumbent Senator
8. Hauwa Ali, Writer
9. Saudatu Bungudu, Former commissioner of Women Affairs
10. Mansur Dan Ali, Former Minister of Defense
11. Aliyu Gusai, Former Chief of Army Staff and Minister of Defense
12. Saidu Dansadau, Former Senator
13. Umaru Shinkafi, Former Intelligence chief and Presidential aspirant
14. Hafsat Abdulwaheed, First published female author from the north.
15. Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura, Former Governor and Senator
16. Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, Former Governor
17. Abdulaziz Yari, Former Governor
18. Muhammad Abubakar, Former IGP

Mineral Resources in Zamfara

1. Gold
2. Iron-Ore
3. Copper
4. Tantalite
5. Manganese

Crops Grown In Zamfara

1. Soya Beans
2. Beans
3. Groundnuts
4. Cotton
5. Millet
6. Sorghum
7. Rice
8. Maize

Ceremonies and Festivals in Zamfara State

1. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

2. Maulud Holiday

Tertiary Institutions

1. Federal University Gusau

2. Federal College of Education (Technical) Gusau

3. School Of Nursing and Midwifery Gusau

4. Abdu Gusau Polytechnic

5. Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda

6. Institute Of Comprehensive Education

7. Zamfara State University Talata Mafara

Facts About Zamfara State

1. Zamfara state was the first state in Nigeria to launch Sharia’h law. The Governor then, Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura did so on the 27^th October 1999.
2. The state capital, Gusau has become an important commercial center for people from neighboring countries like Niger to purchase livestock and food products.
3. Gold deposits in Zamfara state has now become a major source of income and revenue for the State. The recent wave of killings and banditry in the State has been attributed to the presence of gold.
4. In 2019, the Emir of Maru was dethroned for allegedly aiding bandits.

Emirates in Zamfara State

There are 17 Emirates in Zamfara of which 11 have First-class Emirs. The Chairman of the state council of Emirs is the Emir of Anka, HRH Alh. Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad (CON).

List of Emirates in Zamfara State

1. Anka Emirate
2. Bakura Emirate
3. Birnin Magaji Emirate
4. Bukuyum Emirate
5. Bungudu Emirate
6. Dansadau Emirate
7. Gummi Emirate
8. Gusau Emirate
9. Kotorkoshi Emirate
10. Kauran Namoda Emirate
11. Maradun Emirate
12. Maru Emirate
13. Moriki Emirate
14. Shinkafi Emirate
15. Talata Mafara Emirate
16. Tsafe Emirate
17. Zurmi Emirate

First Class Emirs

1. HRH Alh. Attahiru Muh’d Ahmad (CON) (Sarkin Zamfara) Emir of Anka
2. HRH Alh. Ibrahim Bello (Sarkin Katsinan Gusau) Emir of Gusau
3. HRH Justice(Rtd.) Lawal Hassan Gummi (MFR) (Sarkin Mafaran Gummi) Emir of Gummi
4. HRH Alh. Sanusi Muhammad (Sarkin Kiyawa) Emir of K/Namoda
5.  HRH Alh. (Dr) Bello Muh’d Barmo (OON) Emir of Talata Marafa
6. HRH Alh. Emir of Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru,) (Sarkin Fulanin Bungudu) Emir of Bungudu
7. HRH Alh. Garba Muh’d Tambari (MFR) (Sarkin Kayan Maradun) Emir of Maradun
8. HRH Alh. Alhaji Muhammad Bawa, (Yan Doton Tsafe) Emir of Tsafe
9. HRH Alh. Muh’d Usman (FICEN) (Sarkin Dankon Bukkuyum) Emir of Bukkuyum
10. HRH Alh. Abubakar Atiku Muh’d (Emir of Zurmi)
11. HRH Alh. Engr Bello Muhammad Sani (Sarkin Burmin Bakura) Emir of Bakura

Trivia: Do you know that the former Emir of Bakura, Hassan Marafa who was deposed in 2019 emerged as the deputy chairman of the state chapter of the PDP in 2019?

Second Class Emirs

1. HRH Alh. Ahmad Umar Emir of Kotorkoshi

2. HRH Alhaji Abubakar Gado Maigari Emir of Maru

3. HRH Alh. Moh’d Isa Makwashe Isah (MFR) (Sarkin Gabas Shinkafi) Emir of Shinkafi

4. HRH Alh. Hussaini Dan Ali Dan Ali (Dan Alin Birnin Magaji) Emir of Birnin Magaji

5. HRH Sama’ila Muh’d Ari II (MON) (Sarkin Burmin Moriki) Emir of Moriki

6. HRH Alh. Husaini Umar (Sarkin Kudun Dan Sadau) Emir of Dan Sadau

Major Markets in Zamfara

1. Mada Market

2. Gusau Central Market