Zamfara State, whose motto is Farming is Our Pride, lies in the north-west of Nigeria and is a largely agrarian state built on farming, livestock and, in more recent times, gold mining. Carved out of Sokoto and centred on its capital Gusau, Zamfara is a land of wide farmland and strong Hausa and Fulani traditions.
This complete guide brings together everything you need to know about Zamfara State in one place: the full postal (zip) code for every local government area, the codes for its major towns, and an in-depth profile covering the capital, government, economy, infrastructure, education, culture, tourism and climate.
Before we get to the codes themselves, it helps to understand what they are. In Nigeria, what many people casually call a “zip code” is officially known as a postal code. These are the six digit numbers managed by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) that identify a specific area for the sorting and delivery of mail. Whether you are sending a parcel, filling out an online form, registering for a service or verifying an address, using the correct postal code for your location keeps everything accurate and reliable.
Zamfara Zip Code
The postal (zip) codes of Zamfara State range from 860211 to 883105. The state has 14 local government areas, each with its own code, and the capital Gusau falls under 860211 to 860283. Because Zamfara State is large and every district can have its own code, no single number covers the whole state.
This is why it is always best to confirm the exact code for your specific location rather than relying on one general figure. The tables further down this page list the code for every local government area and for the major towns of the state, so you can find the one that matches your address.
How Postal Codes Work in Zamfara
Nigeria’s postal code system uses six digits, and the numbers are not random. The opening digits point to a broad postal zone and district, while the remaining digits narrow the location down to a specific delivery area. In Zamfara State, the codes are grouped around the capital Gusau and spread outward across the local government areas and towns.
For everyday use you rarely need to memorise these codes. What matters is knowing where to look them up and making sure you use the code for your exact district, since a parcel addressed with the wrong postal code can be delayed or misrouted.
As a simple example, a letter or package addressed to the capital, Gusau, would carry a code in the 860211 to 860283 range, while an address in one of the more distant local government areas would use a completely different code. The tables below list the ranges recorded against each local government area and major town in the state, which will get you to the right part of the numbering. They are a starting point rather than the last word: the code that matters for an official form is the one used by the post office that actually delivers to the address.
Full List of Zamfara State LGA Postal Codes
Below is the complete list of all 14 local government areas in Zamfara State and their postal (zip) codes.
How to read this table. NIPOST assigns postal codes to post office delivery districts, not to local government areas, and the two do not line up neatly. One delivery district often serves parts of several LGAs, which is why neighbouring areas here can share the same range — that is the system working as designed, not an error. Treat a range as the codes covering that area, not as a code issued exclusively to it. Where a code has to be exact, confirm it with the post office that delivers to the address before you submit anything.
Local Government Area (LGA)
Postal Code Range Serving This Area
Anka
882101
Bakura
881105
Birnin Magaji/Kiyaw
883103
Bukkuyum
882102
Bungudu
881101
Gummi
882103
Gusau
860211
Kaura Namoda
883101
Maradun
883104
Maru
881103
Shinkafi
883105
Talata Mafara
881102
Tsafe
881104
Zurmi
883102
Postal Codes of Major Towns in Zamfara
These are some of the most searched towns and areas of the state and their postal codes.
Major Town
Postal Code Range Serving This Area
Gusau
860211
Kaura Namoda
883101
Talata Mafara
881102
Anka
882101
Gummi
882103
Maru
881103
Major Cities and Towns in Zamfara State
Gusau, the capital, is the largest town and the administrative and commercial centre of the state, an important market town.
Kaura Namoda, in the north-east, is a historic emirate and commercial town, once an important terminus of the railway, while Talata Mafara and Anka are other important towns serving their farming districts. Gummi, Maru and Bungudu are further market centres spread across the state. Together these towns, set amid the wide farmland of the north-west, make up the fabric of a state whose pride is farming.
Gusau: The Capital of Zamfara State
Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, is the largest town and the administrative and commercial centre of the state. Long an important market and trading town, it became the state capital on the creation of Zamfara and hosts the state secretariat, the Governor’s office and major institutions.
Set amid the farming country of the north-west, Gusau serves as a market and service centre for a large agricultural region, and it has grown steadily as the head of the state.
The city is a hub for the trade in grain, livestock and other produce of the surrounding countryside, and it anchors the administration of a largely rural state.
As the heart of a state whose pride is farming, Gusau combines its role as the seat of government with its long-standing position as a market town serving the agriculture of the region.
Overview and History of Zamfara State
Zamfara State was created in 1996 from the former Sokoto State. It lies in the North West zone and is divided into 14 Local Government Areas. Its people are predominantly Hausa and Fulani, and the state borders Niger Republic to the north.
The area has a long history within Hausaland, once home to the old Zamfara kingdom, one of the historic Hausa states, and later part of the Sokoto Caliphate, with emirate towns such as Anka, Gusau and Kaura Namoda.
Since its creation, Zamfara has developed its capital at Gusau and built the institutions of a modern state on the foundation of its farming and trading communities, while its gold deposits have drawn growing attention in recent years.
This combination of an ancient Hausa heritage, strong farming traditions and emerging mineral wealth gives Zamfara its own distinct place among the states of the north-west.
Government and Current Governor
Zamfara State is governed by Dauda Lawal, who serves as the state’s chief executive from Gusau and administers public services across all 14 Local Government Areas, working alongside the elected State House of Assembly and the judiciary.
The administration’s priorities include security, agriculture, education and infrastructure, reflecting the needs of a largely rural state.
Improving security, supporting farmers and herders, and developing the capital and rural communities are consistent themes of government policy.
Economy of Zamfara State
Zamfara’s economy is overwhelmingly agricultural, with the state producing millet, guinea corn, maize, rice, groundnuts, cotton, tobacco and beans across its wide farmland, and raising large numbers of cattle, sheep and goats.
Livestock and the trade in grain and other produce are central to the economy, and markets in Gusau, Kaura Namoda and the other towns handle the goods of the surrounding countryside.
In recent years, gold and other minerals found across the state have drawn growing interest, adding a mining dimension to an economy long dominated by farming and herding.
This blend of crop farming, extensive livestock rearing, trade and emerging mining gives Zamfara an economy firmly rooted in the land and resources of the north-west.
Infrastructure and Transport
Zamfara is served by roads linking Gusau, Kaura Namoda, Talata Mafara and the other towns to the neighbouring states, and historically by a railway that reached Kaura Namoda. Its position connects it to Sokoto, Katsina and the wider north.
Infrastructure development continues to focus on roads, water and power across the large, mostly rural state, supporting agriculture and connecting the scattered communities.
Improving links between the capital and the farming and mining districts remains a continuing priority for the government.
Education and Institutions
Zamfara is home to the Federal University Gusau, the Zamfara State University at Talata Mafara, and a number of colleges and Islamic institutions, giving the young state a growing educational base.
These institutions provide opportunities for young people across the largely rural state and contribute to its development, complementing its strong agricultural economy and its tradition of Islamic learning.
Culture and People
Zamfara’s culture is deeply Hausa, Fulani and Islamic, expressed through the emirate institutions of Gusau, Anka, Kaura Namoda and the other towns, along with festivals, crafts and scholarship. The emirs preside over colourful courts with their durbars and ceremonies.
The state carries the heritage of the old Zamfara kingdom, one of the historic Hausa states, and its traditions of farming, horsemanship and craft reflect this long history.
Music, weaving, dyeing and the grand festivals of the emirates, held at the great Islamic celebrations, give Zamfara a cultural life rooted in the traditions of the Hausa and Fulani north.
Tourism and Landmarks
Zamfara’s attractions are rooted in its history and landscapes. The historic emirate towns of Gusau, Anka and Kaura Namoda, with their palaces and traditions, offer a window into the heritage of the old Zamfara kingdom and the Hausa north.
The wide farmland, rivers and rocky outcrops of the state provide scenic interest, and the grand durbar festivals of the emirates, with their horsemanship and pageantry, are colourful cultural events.
The traditional markets, where the produce and crafts of the region are traded, add to the appeal for visitors interested in the life and culture of the far north-west.
Together, this combination of historic towns, festivals, landscapes and markets gives Zamfara a modest but genuine cultural and tourism appeal.
Climate
Zamfara has a hot semi-arid climate, with a rainy season from around May to September and a long dry season, including the harmattan, for the rest of the year. Temperatures can be very high in the hot season before the rains arrive.
The reliable rains of the wet season support the crops and grazing that sustain the state’s farming and herding communities, while the rivers allow some cultivation to continue in the dry season.
Quick Facts About Zamfara State
Capital: Gusau
Geopolitical Zone: North West
Postal Code Range: 860211 to 883105
Number of LGAs: 14
Governor: Dauda Lawal
Created: 1996
Also Known As: Farming is Our Pride
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the zip code for Zamfara State?
Zamfara State postal codes range from 860211 to 883105. Each local government area and district has its own specific six digit code, so use the tables above to find the exact one for your area.
What is the postal code for Gusau?
Gusau, the capital, falls under the 860211 to 860283 range.
How many local government areas are in Zamfara State?
There are 14 local government areas in Zamfara State.
Who is the current governor of Zamfara State?
The Governor of Zamfara State is Dauda Lawal.
What is the capital of Zamfara State?
The capital of Zamfara State is Gusau.
Does every area in Zamfara have its own postal code?
Yes. NIPOST assigns six digit codes down to district and street level, which is why a single state wide number is not enough for accurate delivery.
What geopolitical zone is Zamfara State in?
Zamfara State is located in the North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
When was Zamfara State created?
Zamfara State was created in 1996, and it is today divided into 14 local government areas.
What is Zamfara State also known as?
Zamfara State is also known as the Farming is Our Pride, a name that reflects its identity and heritage.
What is the postal code range for Zamfara State?
The postal codes of Zamfara State run from 860211 to 883105, covering all 14 of its local government areas and the towns within them.
Do I need a postal code to send mail within Zamfara State?
Using the correct postal code helps ensure that mail, parcels and deliveries reach the right district within Zamfara State quickly and accurately, and many online forms and delivery services now ask for it.
Summary
In summary, Zamfara State is served by postal codes ranging from 860211 to 883105, spread across its 14 local government areas and its many towns, with the capital Gusau falling under the 860211 to 860283 range. The tables on this page give the specific code for every local government area and major town, making it easy to find the exact one you need.
How to confirm these postal codes
Nigerian postal codes are administered by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), which assigns a six-digit code to each delivery area. Codes are occasionally revised when local government areas are created, renamed, or reorganised, and a single town can fall under more than one code depending on the delivery district. The codes on this page are compiled from NIPOST listings and state administrative records. If you are addressing official mail or completing a form where the code must be exact, confirm it on the NIPOST website or at your nearest post office.
