Katsina State
Katsina State (Hausa: Jihar Katsina جىهر كثينا; Fula: Leydi Katsina 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤳𞤢𞥁𞤭𞤲𞤢) is a state in the northwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Katsina State borders on the Republic of Niger to the north for 250 km (155 miles) and the States of Jigawa for 164 km (102 miles) and Kano to the east, Kaduna to the south for 161 km (100 miles) and Zamfara to the west. States. Nicknamed the "Home of Hospitality", both the state capital and the town of Daura have been described "ancient seats of Islamic culture and learning" in Nigeria.
Katsina State | |
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State | |
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Seal | |
| Nicknames: Home of Hospitality | |
Location of Katsina State in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 12°15′N 7°30′E | |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Date created | 23 September 1987 |
| Capital | Katsina |
| Government | |
| • Body | Government of Katsina State |
| • Governor (List) | Dikko Umar Radda (APC) |
| • Deputy Governor | Farouk Lawal Jobe (APC) |
| • Legislature | Katsina State House of Assembly |
| • Senators | C: Abdulaziz Yaradua (APC) N: Nasir Zangon-Daura (APC) S: Muntari Dandutse (APC) |
| • Representatives | List |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24,192 km2 (9,341 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 17th of 36 |
| Population (2006 census) | |
| • Total | 5,801,584 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 10,368,500 |
| • Rank | 3rd of 36 |
| • Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2021 |
| • Total | $21.47 billion |
| • Per capita | $2,359 |
| Time zone | UTC+01 (WAT) |
| postal code | 820001 |
| ISO 3166 code | NG-KT |
| HDI (2018) | 0.454 low · 30th of 37 |
| Website | Official website |
Katsina State was created in 1987, when it split from Kaduna State. With over 5,800,000 residents as at 2006, Katsina State is the fifth largest state in the country by population, despite the fact that it only ranks 17th out of 36 states in terms of area. Demographically, the Hausa people are the largest ethnic group in the state, and Islam is the most practiced religion. In 2005, Katsina became the fifth state in Nigeria to adopt Sharia law.
The current Governor of Katsina State is Dikko Umar Radda, a member of the All Progressives Congress and ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The state is considered a political stronghold of Buhari, a native of Daura, who won the state in the 2019 presidential election with almost 80% of the vote.
In recent years, Katsina has been one of the Nigerian states hit hardest by terrorism. In 2020, over 300 children were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in the town of Kankara.