Zamfara inks strategic China deals to tackle insecurity, boost farming

The Zamfara State Government has finalised a sweeping partnership with Chinese firms to deploy advanced surveillance drones, revolutionise agriculture, and modernise transport and mining infrastructure in a bid to combat rampant banditry and stimulate economic growth.

Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration confirmed the deals on Wednesday, following a high-stakes working visit to China last February aimed at attracting foreign investment. The collaboration, detailed in a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that a group of Chinese industrialists were at the Government House Gusau, “as a follow-up to the engagement in China.

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The Chinese delegation comprised of six firms specialising in security tech, smart agriculture, and mineral exploration.

“This partnership marks a turning point for Zamfara,” said Governor Lawal during a meeting with the Chinese delegates at Gusau’s Government House. “From tackling insecurity to transforming farming, these agreements will directly impact the lives of our people.”

Central to the deal is a pact with Phoenix Wings, a Beijing-based firm, to supply drone technology and surveillance systems designed to counter kidnappings and bandit attacks. As reported by The Guardian, Zamfara has faced prolonged violence linked to armed groups, displacing thousands and crippling agriculture—the state’s economic backbone.

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In a parallel push to revive farming, Zhong Zhao International Group will train local growers in organic practices and establish fertiliser plants under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU). “Mechanised farming and tech transfer are non-negotiable for food security,” Lawal emphasised, noting the state’s reliance on subsistence agriculture.

The governor’s delegation also secured proposals from Xiamen Magnetic North Technology and King Long United Automobile to develop modern transport hubs and mass transit networks. “Improved mobility is critical for trade and connectivity,” said Abubakar Nakwada, Secretary to the State Government, who accompanied Lawal to China.

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Mining reforms feature prominently, with Tibet Ming Company pledging to inject capital into Zamfara’s underdeveloped mineral sector—home to gold, lithium, and tantalite deposits—while prioritising sustainable practices. The move aligns with federal efforts to curb illegal mining, often blamed for funding criminal networks.

However, the spotlight remains on security. Shenzhen HighGreat Innovation Technology will provide robotics and drone display systems, while WEICAI LOVOL International Trading Company advances “smart agriculture” platforms to mitigate farm invasions.