{"id":125479,"date":"2026-02-07T21:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=125479"},"modified":"2026-02-07T21:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T20:34:14","slug":"zamfara-budgets-n1bn-for-cemeteries-amid-rising-insecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/zamfara-budgets-n1bn-for-cemeteries-amid-rising-insecurity\/","title":{"rendered":"Zamfara Budgets N1bn for Cemeteries Amid Rising Insecurity"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Zamfara State Government has allocated N1 billion in its 2026 budget for the construction of ultramodern cemeteries across its 14 local government areas, even as bandit attacks and killings continue in the state.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The allocation is included in the state\u2019s approved 2026 budget under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, at a time many communities are grappling with persistent violence and loss of lives linked to untamed banditry.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">The budgetary provision has drawn criticism from residents, who argue that the government is prioritising burial infrastructure over security and healthcare.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00a0A resident of Gusau, Hassan Mahradun, in Hausa language, described the move as a reflection of misplaced priorities.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThe government seems more interested in burying us than protecting us. The major causes of death in this are man-made. Thats terrorism and preventable diseases. Yet the amount budgeted for affordable healthcare centres is always small. There is no political will to stop the killings. Now, the government has decided to build more cemeteries to bury us. I am ashamed of being from this primitive state,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Endless attacks and kidnap for ransom,\u00a0 highlight the ongoing security challenges in the state.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00a0On Wednesday, February 4, residents of Kyaram community were ambushed by suspected bandits, resulting in at least five deaths, with several others reported missing.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">Similarly, on January 29, armed assailants attacked Gwargwaba village in Nahuce District of Bungudu Local Government Area, killing at least four residents.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">In December 2025, Governor Dauda Lawal presented a proposed N861 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Zamfara State House of Assembly.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00a0According to the governor\u2019s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, N714 billion, or 83 per cent of the budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N147.28 billion (17 per cent) is allocated for recurrent spending.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja The Zamfara State Government has allocated N1 billion in its 2026 budget for the construction of ultramodern cemeteries across its 14 local government areas, even as&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":125480,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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