Zamfara’s ₦1 Billion Cemetery Budget Sparks Outrage Amid Escalating Insecurity

The Zamfara State Government, under Governor Dauda Lawal, has set aside ₦1 billion in the 2026 budget for the construction of ultramodern cemeteries across all 14 local government areas. The allocation, listed under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, forms part of the state’s ₦871.3 billion budget approved earlier this year, slightly above the initial ₦861 billion proposal.

The announcement has ignited a storm of criticism online, with many Nigerians decrying the move as insensitive against the backdrop of a persistent security crisis. Communities such as Kyaram and Gwargwaba continue to bear the brunt of deadly bandit attacks, kidnappings, and raids, leaving residents displaced or dead despite ongoing military operations.

Social media commentary paints a picture of frustration, with users describing the allocation as “tone-deaf” and accusing the government of “planning for more deaths” instead of prioritizing urgent needs like security, healthcare, education, and livelihoods. Analysts note that the lack of transparency regarding the purpose of the cemetery funding whether to expand burial infrastructure or accommodate cultural and religious practices has only intensified public anger.

Zamfara’s insecurity is deep-rooted, with armed bandits terrorizing rural communities across all local government areas. Critics argue that the ₦1 billion could have been redirected toward proactive security measures, especially considering that the state’s security budget in 2024 alone was ₦17.4 billion, and multi-year totals between 2023 and 2025 exceeded ₦31 billion.

Security experts suggest that targeted deployment of ₦1 billion could have meaningful impact in localized hotspots:

● Surveillance and intelligence: Medium-scale drones cost roughly ₦150 million each. The fund could acquire six to seven drones or a larger fleet of simpler models, including training and maintenance, bolstering early-warning systems and guiding rapid response operations.

● Vehicles and mobility: Armoured patrol vehicles are costly, but the budget could secure two to four units or a larger number of modified pickups for rural patrols, enhancing mobility for security forces and vigilante groups.

● Community policing and vigilante support: Local vigilante groups are essential to regional security. The allocation could provide stipends, training, motorcycles, communication gear, and basic arms for hundreds or over a thousand vigilantes for one to two years, alongside the establishment of community policing posts in high-risk areas.

Other potential uses include solar-powered CCTV networks, protective gear, and operational logistics. Yet, analysts caution that while such measures could improve security locally, ₦1 billion alone cannot fundamentally change the state’s security trajectory, which is driven by thousands of bandits, cross-border arms trafficking, illegal mining, kidnapping ransoms, and systemic governance gaps.

Critics stress that lasting solutions require investment in youth employment, education, and deradicalization programs rather than reactive infrastructure alone. The controversy over the cemetery allocation underscores a broader governance challenge in Nigeria’s Northwest: citizens demand protection and preventive measures, not infrastructure that merely responds to the human cost of insecurity.