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🏠 Local Government Areas • North West

Zamfara State
Local Government Areas

Zamfara State has 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs), each with its own council, headquarters and elected officials. The state capital is Gusau.

14 Total LGAs
3 Senatorial Districts
3,580,000 Population (2006 Census)
StateZamfara
CapitalGusau
ZoneNorth West
LGAs14
Districts3
14 of 14 LGAs
Zamfara Central 4 LGAs
Zamfara LGA
Anka
HQ: Anka
Pop: 260,000 (2006)
Known for gold mining and the Anka emirate. Important mineral and agricultural LGA in Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Birnin Magaji
HQ: Birnin Magaji
Pop: 175,000 (2006)
Known for the Birnin Magaji emirate and groundnut farming. Agricultural LGA in central Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Gusau
HQ: Gusau
Pop: 450,000 (2006)
Contains Gusau, the Zamfara State capital. Home to the sultan of Gusau emirate and state institutions.
Zamfara LGA
Maradun
HQ: Maradun
Pop: 195,000 (2006)
Agricultural LGA known for millet and groundnut farming. Communities also engage in cattle rearing.
Zamfara East 4 LGAs
Zamfara LGA
Bungudu
HQ: Bungudu
Pop: 270,000 (2006)
Known for sorghum, millet and groundnut farming. Agricultural LGA in eastern Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Maru
HQ: Maru
Pop: 240,000 (2006)
Known for groundnuts, cotton and the Maru emirate. Agricultural LGA in eastern Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Talata Mafara
HQ: Talata Mafara
Pop: 330,000 (2006)
Major agricultural LGA known for groundnuts, cotton and the Talata Mafara emirate.
Zamfara LGA
Tsafe
HQ: Tsafe
Pop: 265,000 (2006)
Agricultural LGA known for groundnuts and millet. Important commercial LGA in eastern Zamfara.
Zamfara West 6 LGAs
Zamfara LGA
Bakura
HQ: Bakura
Pop: 175,000 (2006)
Agricultural LGA known for millet and groundnut farming. Security challenges from banditry affect the area.
Zamfara LGA
Bukkuyum
HQ: Bukkuyum
Pop: 185,000 (2006)
Known for gold mining and the Bukkuyum emirate. Important mineral-rich LGA in western Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Gummi
HQ: Gummi
Pop: 250,000 (2006)
Known for the Gummi emirate and groundnut farming. Important commercial LGA in western Zamfara.
Zamfara LGA
Kaura Namoda
HQ: Kaura Namoda
Pop: 310,000 (2006)
Major commercial city, second largest in Zamfara. Known for cotton, groundnuts and livestock trade.
Zamfara LGA
Shinkafi
HQ: Shinkafi
Pop: 230,000 (2006)
Border LGA with Niger Republic. Known for cross-border trade, groundnuts and cattle.
Zamfara LGA
Zurmi
HQ: Zurmi
Pop: 245,000 (2006)
Known for the Zurmi emirate and groundnut farming. Agricultural LGA in western Zamfara.
Frequently Asked Questions — Zamfara State LGAs

Zamfara State has 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs). Each LGA has its own elected council, a chairman, and a headquarters town. They are responsible for grassroots governance, primary education, primary healthcare, and rural infrastructure.

Zamfara State is divided into 3 senatorial districts. Each district is represented by a senator in the Nigerian National Assembly and comprises several LGAs. The districts in Zamfara State are: Zamfara Central, Zamfara East, Zamfara West.

Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria are the third tier of government. Their constitutional responsibilities include:

  • Primary and adult education
  • Primary healthcare and maternal services
  • Local roads and drains
  • Markets, motor parks and public conveniences
  • Refuse disposal and environmental sanitation
  • Naming of streets and numbering of houses
  • Collection of local taxes and rates
LGAs receive monthly allocations from the Federation Account (FAAC) and generate internally through rates and fees.

Each LGA is headed by an elected Local Government Chairman, who serves as the chief executive of the council. The legislative arm is the Legislative Council, made up of elected councillors representing each ward. The council appoints supervisory councillors (equivalent to commissioners) to head departments like education, health and works.

The headquarters of a Local Government Area is the principal town or city where the council secretariat (local government secretariat) is located. It is where the chairman's office, legislative hall, and most council departments are based. The headquarters is usually the largest or most central town in the LGA.