Zamfara Missed Out on ₦500 Billion Federal Palliative Funds, Alleges Governor

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has alleged that his state has not received any of the over ₦500 billion in federal palliative support reportedly disbursed to other states, claiming the exclusion is politically motivated.

Speaking on Radio DW Hausa on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Lawal said that despite the massive federal allocations to other states, Zamfara has received nothing since he assumed office in 2023. I am aware that some states have received over ₦500 billion from the Federal Government as palliative funds, yet I have not received anything,” the governor said. “I believe it may be because I am not a member of the APC but belong to the PDP. It seems that people like us are not considered for such assistance. Lawal emphasized that his administration has continued to manage the state’s affairs without taking loans. “Since I became governor, I have never borrowed from any bank or other sources,” he added. The governor’s comments have reignited debates over the fairness of federal palliative allocations, especially amid rising living costs and economic pressures across the country. As of reporting time, the Presidency and representatives of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had not responded to the allegations.