Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has assured international investors that the northwest Nigerian state is open for business, highlighting opportunities in mining and infrastructure.
Lawal made the pitch on Saturday at the fifth African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) conference in Algiers, Algeria, where he shared a panel with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Makelo Lusaka of Kenya.
“We are committed to transforming Zamfara’s narrative from one of challenges to one of opportunities and resilience,” Lawal told investors.
“My administration is dedicated to creating a secure, profitable, and sustainable environment for investment. I am here as a partner, ready to collaborate to unlock shared prosperity.”
The governor called for partnerships with financiers such as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), urging the use of credit guarantees, political risk insurance, and currency swap facilities to help attract capital for large-scale projects.
He said Zamfara is seeking support in modernizing its land registry, building capacity in investment promotion, and digitizing permit processing to enhance transparency.
Lawal noted that while Zamfara is widely known for its gold deposits, the state also has untapped reserves of copper, lithium, tantalite, and granite.
The AfSNET conference brought together sub-national leaders to showcase investment opportunities and explore cross-border partnerships in Africa.
