There is palpable excitement in Zamfara State as the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal officially commenced the 2026 Hajj airlift for pilgrims from the Gusau Airport (GIA). In a historic move aimed at easing the pilgrimage process, the state government announced that the first batch of pilgrims who departed for the Holy Land today, Friday, 15th May 2026.This milestone marks the fulfillment of Governor Lawal’s promise to make direct departures from Zamfara a reality, eliminating the need for pilgrims to travel to other states for airlift. However, the state government has issued a strict advisory to the public regarding conduct at the airport. To ensure security and facilitate the smooth coordination of the airlift operations, escorting pilgrims to the airport is strictly prohibited.Family members and friends wishing to bid farewell to their loved ones are directed to do so only at the Hajj Camp. The restriction, according to officials, is a necessary measure to prevent congestion and maintain order at the airport premises. Officials confirm that the airlift is now underway at Gusau International Airport. The development has been met with widespread praise from intending pilgrims, who expressed relief at being able to begin their spiritual journey directly from their home state.The Zamfara State Government extended its sincere gratitude to Governor Lawal for his commitment, emphasizing that the direct airlift reflects a new chapter of convenience and efficiency for the state’s annual Hajj operations.

Governor Dauda Lawal has commended the troops of the Joint Task Force (North West) Operation Fansan Yamma for achieving significant operational successes against bandits in Zamfara State. The troops of the Joint Task Force launched an elaborate and coordinated onslaught in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. Following the encounter, troops effectively neutralised three gang leaders and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition, which included an AK-47 rifle, a machine gun, a locally fabricated handgun, seven rifle magazines and a total of 571 rounds of ammunition.Governor Lawal described the renewed military offensive as timely, particularly due to the successful operation recorded on May 10, 2026, which disrupted a significant gathering of notorious terrorist leaders and neutralised several commanders. The troops acted on an intelligence report that confirmed that the terrorists had converged at a concealed location in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, with the intention to coordinate attacks and criminal activities targeting innocent communities in the state. The Air Component launched a precision airstrike on the identified terrorist hideout that successfully destroyed the structure, which served as the terrorists’ meeting point. The governor further reiterates Zamfara State Government’s commitment to ongoing support and logistics for the military and other security agencies operating in the state.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has officially approved the sum of N3.2 billion for the complete renovation, accreditation, and commencement of academic activities at the Zamfara State School of Nursing and Health Sciences, located in Zurmi Local Government Area. This was confirmed in an official statement released marking a major intervention in the state’s ailing healthcare education sector, which has suffered years of neglect and infrastructural decay.According to government sources, the funds will be channeled into three critical areas: the overhauling of lecture halls, administrative blocks, student hostels, and practical demonstration labs to meet modern standards; the settlement of regulatory fees and implementation of curriculum upgrades required by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN); and enabling the school to admit its first batch of students in over five years, with a focus on midwifery, community health and general nursing. Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Health described the approval as a new chapter in healthcare manpower development, noting that the Zurmi school has remained non-functional for nearly a decade due to poor infrastructure and loss of accreditation. Governor Dauda Lawal is not just renovating a school but rebuilding the backbone of primary healthcare delivery in Zamfara, adding that without trained nurses and community health workers, the state’s hospitals cannot function and that this N3.2 billion investment will change the narrative.Residents of Zurmi and prospective students have greeted the news with excitement, with many having lost hope of ever seeing the institution reopen. Governor Dauda Lawal, who has made health sector revitalization a cornerstone of his administration, was quoted as saying that his government remains committed to accessible, quality education and healthcare across all 14 local government areas of the state, adding that no Zurmi child should travel hundreds of kilometers just to become a nurse. The state government has issued a directive to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to ensure the project is completed within nine months, with accreditation visits scheduled to begin before the end of the current fiscal year.

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