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Zamfara State

Coordinates: 12°10′N 6°15′E / 12.167°N 6.250°E / 12.167; 6.250
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Zamfara
جهار زمفر
State
Zamfara State
Flag of Zamfara State
Flag
Seal of Zamfara State
Seal
Nicknames: 
Farming is Our Pride
Location of Zamfara State in Nigeria
Location of Zamfara State in Nigeria
Coordinates: 12°10′N 6°15′E / 12.167°N 6.250°E / 12.167; 6.250
Country Nigeria
Date created1 October 1996
CapitalGusau
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Zamfara State
 • Governor
(List)		Dauda Lawal (PDP)
 • Deputy GovernorMani Mallam Mummuni (PDP)
 • LegislatureZamfara State House of Assembly
 • SenatorsC: Vacant
N: Sahabi Alhaji Yaú (APC)
W: Lawal Hassan Anka (APC)
 • RepresentativesList
Area
 • Total
39,762 km2 (15,352 sq mi)
 • Rank7th of 36
Population
 (2006 census)
 • Total
3,278,873
 • Estimate 
(2022[1])
5,833,500
 • Rank15th of 36
 • Density82/km2 (210/sq mi)
DemonymZamfaran
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2021
 • Total$11.18 billion[2]
32nd of 36
 • Per capita$2,108[2]
30th of 36
Time zoneUTC+01 (WAT)
ISO 3166 codeNG-ZA
HDI (2022)0.392[3]
low · 34th of 37
Websitewww.zamfara.gov.ng
A boy in Maru Local Government Area

Zamfara (Hausa: Jihar Zamfara; Fula: Leydi Zamfara; Adlam: 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤶𞤢𞤥𞤬𞤢𞤪𞤢) is a state in northwestern Nigeria. The capital of Zamfara state is Gusau and its current governor is Dauda Lawal. Until 1996, the area was part of Sokoto State.

Zamfara is a densely populated area with the Hausa. The Zamfarawa mainly in Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum and Talata Mafara Local Governments areas. Gobirawa populated Shinkafi Local Government.[4] Gobirawa actually migrated from the Gobir Kingdom. Burmawa are found in Bakura and Fulani peopled Bungudu, Maradun, Gusau and are scattered all over the State. In Chafe, Bungudu and Maru, most are mainly Katsinawa, Garewatawa and Hadejawa. While, Alibawa people are located at Kaura Namoda and Zurmi, the Alawan Shehu Usmanu Fulani's are found in Birninmagaji.[5]

It is bordered to the north by the Republic of the Niger for 32 km (20 miles), to the south by Kaduna State for 117 km (73 miles) and Niger for 38 km (24 miles), to the east by Katsina State, and to the west by the states of Sokoto and Kebbi. It has a population of 3,278,873 according to the 2006 census and contains fourteen local government areas.

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Zamfara
Zamfara State Museum.

The people of Zamfara have over the years struggled for autonomy, but it was not until 1996 that the then military administration of the late General Sani Abacha detached the Zamfara State from Sokoto State with an area of 38,418 square kilometres. The first Governor was Jibril Yakubu.[5][failed verification]

The area today called Zamfara state was one of the old Hausa Kingdoms like Kano, Katsina, Gobir, Kabi and Zazzau. The earliest inhabitants of Zamfara were said to have been hunters and giants.[6] They established their first settlement at Dutsi, which was the first capital of Zamfara. It extends up to the bend of River Rima to the north west and River Ka in the south west. Zamfara Kingdom was established in the 11th century and flourished up to 16th century as a city-state. Its capital has shifted with the fortunes of the kingdom from place to place like Dutsi and Birnin Zamfara.

In the first half of the 18th century, its then capital Birnin Zamfara, was destroyed by the Gobir Kingdom and a new capital was established in Anka by the second half of the 19th century. Zamfara had many centres of commerce and scholarship that attracted many scholars like the Yandoto city. It became part of the Sokoto Caliphate after the 1804 jihad by Usman dan Fodio. In fact, Usman Danfodiyo settled in Sabon Gari where Sarkin Zamfara Abarshi had already established a garrison headquarters during the early days of his Jihad as a base from where he fought Gobir and Kabi.[7]

At the wake of British colonialism, the emerging town of Gusau became an important commercial and administrative centre with road and rail networks passing through it. With the creation of states during the Gowon Administration, Zamfara Kingdom became part of the then North West state and later the Sokoto State.[7]

Geography

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Climate

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The climate condition of Zamfara is tropical with temperatures rising up to 38 °C (100.4 °F) and above between March and May. Rainy season starts in late May to September while the mild season known as Harmattan lasts from December to April. The hottest months in Zamfara are March and April, and that is just before the first rains. the onset of the rains bring a cooling effect with temperature dropping.[8]

Pollution

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Significant health risks are posed by dust and particulate matter in Zamfara, especially to the deepest parts of the lungs, where they may exacerbate lungs diseases like bronchitis and asthma attacks while weakening the body defences against infections.[9][10][11]

Local Government Areas

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See also: List of villages in Zamfara State

Zamfara State consists of fourteen (14) Local Government Areas. They are:

Demographics

[edit]
A household in Zamfara State

Zamfara State is mainly populated by Hausa.[12]

The state capital is an important commercial centre with a heterogeneous population of people from all over Nigeria. As in all major towns in Nigeria, all the major towns in Zamfara have a large population of other peoples from different parts of Nigeria.[5]

Hausa

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This is one of the official languages of the state. English is spoken by the zamfara state government as an official language and Arabic language is spoken by the Muslim ummah and Islamic clerics.

[13]

Economy

[edit]
Gathering firewood in rural Zamfara
A camel being transported home from a market

Agriculture and gold mining are the state's main occupations and the central source of income. Irrigation is required for cereals and legumes, hence the slogan "farming is our pride".[14]

Over 80 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture. Major products include millet, guinea corn, maize, rice, groundnut, cotton, tobacco and beans.[15] The State is known as farming is our pride because Agriculture provides foodstuffs, raw materials and employment opportunities for young people in the State.[5]

The state is one of the poorest in Nigeria and has one of the highest incidences of extreme poverty (over 60% of the population) according to World Bank data from 2018.[16]

Natural resources

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Zamfara state has many natural resources, some are:[17]

Education

[edit]

Tertiary institutions in Zamfara state include:

Healthcare

[edit]
Polio in Gusau zamfara state.

Zamfara state has many healthcare centres and hospitals, some of them are:

Transport

[edit]

Federal Highways

[edit]

A126 northwest from Katsina State near Kutcheri as the Gusau Rd via Tsafe, Unguwar Audu, Gusau, Bungundu, Kabai, and Talata Mafara to Sokoto State at Bimasa as the Sokoto-Gusau Rd.

Other major roads

[edit]
  • the Katsina-Gusau Rd north from Gusau via Kaura Namoda to Katsina State as the Jibiya-Zurmi-Barakeji Rd at Gidan Baure,
  • the Kaura Namoda-Shinkafi Rd north from Kaura Namoda to Sokoto State at Kwanar Isa as the Shinkafi-Kafi Rd,
  • the Dansadau Rd south from Gusau to Dan Sadau where the road continues west to Kebbi State at Kaboro,
  • the Anka-Malichi Rd west from A126 at Malinchi to Anka where the Gayawa-Anka Rd continues to Gayawa, where the Gummi-Gayawa Rd continues to Sokoto State at Tashar-Bundun,
  • the Zuru-Mahuta Rd south from Gayawa via Zugu to Kebbi State near Sakke.

Railways

[edit]

Gusau is connected with the 1067 mm Cape Gauge Western Line by the 245 km Zaria-Kaura Namoda branch line.

Airports

[edit]

Incidents

[edit]
Main article: Zamfara State lead poisoning outbreak

In 2009, gold mining became a greater source of income in Zamfara State as worldwide gold prices rose drastically.[24] High concentrations of Lead in the ore from which gold was being extracted led to a Lead poisoning outbreak in the state, requiring national and international intervention to remediate affected areas and provide medical care to children with severe Lead poisoning.[4]

Bandit attacks

[edit]
Main articles: Nigerian bandit conflict, Zamfara kidnapping, Zurmi massacre, and 2022 Zamfara massacres

Zamfara is known to experience several recent attacks from bandits. Some among them are:

On 26 February 2021, 279 girls were abducted from their boarding school located in Jangebe, Zamfara during the Zamfara kidnapping. They have since been released.[25]

On 11–12 June 2021, motorcycle-riding bandits killed over 53 villagers, mostly farmers.[26]

On 4–6 January 2022, over 200 people were killed by bandits in Zamfara State.[27][28]

Religion

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Islam is the principal and major religion of the state. Christianity also has many adherents. The original native religions also remain but they have the fewest followers. These religions are mainly practiced in ancient settlements like Dutsi and Kwatarkwashi. Zamfara was the first state in Nigeria to introduce Sharia law during the tenure of Ahmad Sani Yerima, the former Governor of the state.

Tourism

[edit]
Mount Kwatarkwashi

Zamfara State holds some number of tourist attractions which are of historical or religious importance. These include Jata, an ancient settlement of Zamfara located around the hill with a large cave around where traditional practices were performed.[15]

Notable people

[edit]
Baobab trees

Politics

[edit]

The state government is led by a democratically elected governor who works closely with members of the state house of assembly. The capital city of the state is Gusau.[citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zamfara State: Subdivision". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Okeowo, Gabriel; Fatoba, Iyanuoluwa, eds. (13 October 2022). "State of States 2022 Edition" (PDF). Budgit.org. BudgIT. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Zamfara State". Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Zamfara State of Nigeria :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Zamfara Gold Mining Factory". krzysztofpilarczyk.pl. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Zamfara State, Nigeria Genealogy". FamilySearch Wiki. 11 April 2020. Archived from the original on 15 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. ^ Abdu . P.S., K. Swindell (1982). Sokoto State in Maps: An Atlas of physical and Human Resources. Ibadan: Oxford University Press.
  9. ^ "Air Quality & Pollen Forecast for Zamfara State". meteoblue. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Zamfara Air Quality Index (AQI) and Nigeria Air Pollution | IQAir". www.iqair.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. ^ "air pollution in zamfara state - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Nigeria Ethnic Groups|Map". onlinenigeria.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Nigeria". Ethnologue (22 ed.). Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  14. ^ "Zamfara gold mining: Niger Delta seeks amendment of petroleum, mining acts". 12 December 2020. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Zamfara State of Nigeria :: Nigeria Information & Guide". www.nigeriagalleria.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Geospatial Poverty Portal: Interactive Maps". World Bank. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Zamfara: Can states exploit their mineral resources?". The Guardian Nigeria News. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Official List of Courses Offered in Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda (FEDPONAM) - Myschool". myschool.ng. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  19. ^ "List Of FUGUS Courses and Programmes Offered". www.myschoolgist.com. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  20. ^ "List of All Courses Offered at ZAMSU, Cut Off Mark & Requirements". Eduloaded. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  21. ^ TVCN (19 August 2022). "1000 Patients In Zamfara Benefit From Cash Donation -". TVC News. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  22. ^ Fatunmole, Marcus (3 January 2023). "Here's how COVID-19 Intervention Fund is boosting Gusau FMC's services". The ICIR. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  23. ^ TVCN (5 August 2021). "Victims of bandits attack, others abandoned at FMC Gusau as doctors' strike enters day four". TVC News. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  24. ^ Maram Mazen (10 May 2012). "Nigeria Gold Rush Exposes Children to Lead Poisoning - Bloomberg Business". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Nigeria's Zamfara school abduction: More than 300 Nigerian girls missing". BBC News. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Gunmen storm villages, kill 53 in Nigeria's Zamfara state". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  27. ^ "At least 200 dead in bandit attacks in northwest Nigeria". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  28. ^ Nwannah, Ifeanyi (26 February 2022). "Security operatives rescue 7 kidnapped victims in Zamfara". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Marafa hosts Zamfara PCC members". Daily Trust. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  30. ^ Nda-Isaiah, Jonathan (27 July 2022). "Buhari Appoints Kaura OGFZA MD, Umahi As RMAFC Secretary". Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Adamawa Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Madawaki, Drops Ambition, Declares Support For APC Candidate, Binani | Sahara Reporters". saharareporters.com. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  32. ^ Ramalan, Ibrahim (25 December 2023). "Matawalle charges newly promoted Military officers to end insecurity". Daily Nigerian. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  33. ^ "FLASHBACK: How Shinkafi defected as Zamfara sitting gov then". Daily Trust - Nigerian Breaking News, Investigative stories,Features, Videos,Pictures, Entertainment, Business Stories e.t.c. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  34. ^ Omogbolagun, Tope (8 July 2023). "DSS detains, grills ex-Zamfara gov, Yari". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  35. ^ Nigeria, News Agency of (2 July 2023). "Sani Yerima asks Tinubu to dialogue with bandits". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
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