Kaduna State Profile

Kaduna State is a state located in the North-western Zone of the Country. It was created on the 27^th of May 1967 as the North Central state and was later renamed Kaduna after the crocodiles in the area on 17^th March 1976. The state was one of the few states created out of the regions, the others being  North-Western State, North-Eastern state, Kano State, Benue-Plateau State, Kwara State, Western State, Lagos State, Mid-Western State, Rivers State, South-Eastern State, East-Central State. The capital of the State is Kaduna. Kaduna state local governments are mostly populated by the Hausas.

Kaduna was also the former capital of the Northern Region abolished where the Governor and The Premier resides up until 1966 when the regions were abolished. This was why the state is commonly referred to as ‘Kaduna Garin Gwamna‘ meaning ‘the Governor’s city.’

Up to this day, the state remains an important part of the North and Nigeria in general. The state has produced one Vice President and numerous other important government officials and dignitaries.

Motto of Kaduna State

Centre of learning

Population of Kaduna state

Kaduna is now the state capital to about 8,252,366 people according to the National Bureau of Statistics projection made in 2016.

Landmass

The state covers an impressive 46,053 square kilometres. It is the fourth largest state by landmass in Nigeria, surpassed only by Niger, Borno and Taraba.

Flag of Kaduna State

Official Site

Kaduna state official site

Present Governor

The current governor of Kaduna state is Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai and his deputy Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe who were elected under the banner of APC in 2019. Hadiza Sabuwa is the first female Deputy Governor in the whole North-west zone.

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Kaduna State Local Governments

Kaduna state has 23 Local Governments, one of the largest in the country.

List of Local Governments and their Headquarters

S/N	Local Government	Headquarters
1	Birnin Gwari	Birnin Gwari
2	Chikun	Kujama
3	Giwa	Giwa
4	Igabi	Turunku
5	Ikara	Ikara
6	Jaba	Kwoi
7	Jema’a	Kafanchan
8	Kachia	Kachia
9	Kaduna North	Doka
10	Kaduna South	Makera
11	Kagarko	Kagarko
12	Kajuru	Kajuru
13	Kaura	Kaura
14	Kauru	Kauru
15	Kubau	Anchau
16	Kudan	Hunkuyi
17	Lere	Saminaka
18	Makarfi	Makarfi
19	Sabon Gari	Dogarawa
20	Sanga	Gwantu
21	Soba	Maigana
22	Zangon Kataf	Zonkwa
23	Zaria	Zaria

Commissioner and Ministries of Kaduna State

In the state, there are 14 ministries and they include;

Ministry	Commissioner	Website
Commissioner of Agriculture	Ibrahim Hussaini	agric.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Budget and Planning	Muhammad Sani Dattijo	pbc.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Business, Innovation And Technology	Kabir Mato	mbit.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Education	Halima Lawal	education.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Environment	Ja’afaru Sani	environment.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Finance	Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu	finance.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Justice	Aisha Dikko	justice.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Health	Amina Baloni	health.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs	Shehu Usman Mohammed Makarfi, PhD	localgov.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs	Samuel Aruwan	Internalsecurity.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Public Works and Infrastructure	Thomas Gyang	works.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Sports Development	Idris Nyam	sports.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of  Housing & Urban Development	Fausat Ibironke	housing.kdsg.gov.ng
Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development	Hafsat Baba	humanservices.kdsg.gov.ng

Past Governors of Kaduna State

Governor	System	Left Office
Abba Kyari	North Central State Governor	July 1975
Usman Jibrin	Governor of North Central State	1977
Mukhtar Muhammad	Military Governor	July 1978
Ibrahim Muhammad Alfa	Military Governor	1979
Abdulkadi Balarabe Musa	Civilian Governor	October 1978 (impeached)
Abba Musa Rimi	Civilain Governor	6th July 1981
Lawal Kaita	Civilain Governor	October 1983
Usman Muazu	Military Governor	January 1984
Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar	Military Governor	July 1988
Abubakakr Tanko Ayuba	Military Governor	August 1988
Muhammad Dabo Lere	Civilian Governor	2nd January 1992
Lawal Ja’afaru Isa	Military Governor	9th December 1993
Hameed Ali	Military Governor	22nd August 1996
Umar Farouk Ahmed	Military Administrator	May 1999
Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi	Civilian Governor (PDP)	29th May 2007
Namadi Sambo	Civilian Governor (PDP)	May 2010
Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa	Civilian Governor (PDP) (Deceased while in office)	2012
Mukhtar Ramalan Yero	Civilian Governor (PDP)	29th May 2015
Nasir El-Rufa’i	Civilian Governor (APC)	Incumbent

Borders

Kaduna state shares borders with Kaduna with Katsina through Giwa LGA and Kano through Hunkuyi to the north. The state also has borders with Bauchi through Saminaka and Plateau through Birnin Gwari to the east. The state also borders Nassawara to the south and Niger to the west. Kaduna also shares borders with FCT Abuja.

Major Tribes in Kaduna

1. Adara (dubbed Kadara),

2. Akurmi (abeled Kurama by the Hausa),

3. Anghan (dubbed Kamanton by the Hausa),

4. Amo

5. Aruruma (named Ruruma by the Hausa)

6. Atachaat (dubbed Kachechere)

7. Atyab (dubbed Kataf by the Hausa)

8. Atuku

9.  Ayu

10. Bajju

11. Bakulu (Ikulu by the Hausa)

12. Bhazar (named Koro)

13. Bur (Sanga)

14. Binawa

15. Dingi

16. Fantswam

17. Fulfulde (called Fulani or Fulde for short)

18. Gbagyi

19. Gure

20. Gwandara

21. Gwong (Kagoma in Hausa)

22. Ham

23. Hausa

24. Jangi

25. Kaibi

26. Kahugu

27. Kanufi

28. Kigono

29. Kinugu

30. Kitimi

31. Kiwafa

32. Kiwollo

33. Kono

34. Kuvori

35. Kuturmi

36. Lemoro

37. Mada (Mardan)

38. Nandu

39. Nduyah

40. Numana

41. Nindem

42. Ningeshe

43. Ninkyop

44. Ninzo

45. Nyenkpa (Yeskwa)

46. Oegworok

47. Pikal

48. Pitti

49. Ribang

50. Rishuwa

51. Rumada

52. Ruruma

53. Rumayya

54. Shemawa

Tourist Attraction Sites in Kaduna State

1. Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Club

2. Kaduna Golf Club 

3. Kajuru Castle

4. Matsirga waterfalls

5. Murtala Square

6. Emirs palace Zaria

7. Zaria wall

8. Kufena rock

9. Zaria dam

10. Gaskiya NNPC building

11. Gamji

12. Zaria city gates

Notable Figures from Kaduna State

1. Martin Luther Agwai, Former Chief of Army Staff
2. Zamani Lekwot, Former Military Administrator
3. Usman Muazu, Former Military Governor
4. Luka Yusuf, former Chief of Army Staff
5. Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, Renowned Islamic cleric
6. Muhammad Nasir, Albany Zaria, Islamic preacher assassinated in 2014
7. Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)
8. Reverend Mathew Hassan Kukah ,Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese
9. Abubakar Imam Ikara, Famous Izala cleric
10. Yusuf Sambo Rigachikun, Izala Preacher
11. Ahmad Muhammad Makarfi, Former Governor in the Fourth Republic
12. Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa, Former Governor in the Second Republic
13. Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Former Minister of FCT and Incumbent Governor
14. Namadi Smbo, Former Governor and Vice President
15. Shehu Sani, Former Senator and Activist
16. Uba Sani, Current Senator Kaduna Central
17. Stephen Shekari, Former Deputy Governor, now deceased
18. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Former Ambassador and elder statesman
19. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Former Governor
20. Isah Ashiru Kudan, House of Representatives Member and Gubernatorial Aspirant
21. Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, Former Senator Representing Kaduna North
22. Ahamd Aruwa, Former Senator
23. Ishaya Balat, Former Senator Kaduna South
24. Hamisu Yusuf Abubakar (Mairago), Former Executive Secretary PTDF
25. Suleiman Audu Kwari, Current Senator representing Kaduna North
26. Nenadi Esther Usman, Former Senator and Minister of Finance
27. Hakeem Baba Ahmad, Retired  Federal Permanent Secretary
28. Lawal Samaila Yakawada, Former Secretary to the State Government
29. Hamza Ishaq Danmahawayi, Former SSG
30. Rilwanu Lukman, Former OPEC Secretary General and Minister
31. Professor Ango Abdullahi, Former Vice Chancellor of ABU and elder statesman.  
32. Professor Kabir Bala, Incumbent Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria
33. Prof Jonathan Andrew Nok, Professor of Biochemistry and Renowned scientist and Researcher
34. Audee T. Giwa, Author

Mineral Resources Found in Kaduna State

Kaduna State is endowed with mineral resources spread across almost all its 23 LGAs. Some of the mineral resources in Kaduna State are Gemstones, Industrial Minerals, Gold, Cassiterite, Tantalite, Wolframite, Columbite, Manganese, Molybdenum, Lithium, Nickel etc.

Ceremonies and Festivals in Kaduna

1. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

2. Christmas Celebrations

3. Easter Celebrations

4. Batadon Festival

5. Durbar Festival (Hawan Sallah, Hawan Daushe and Hawan Bariki)

6. Kaduna State Festival of Arts and Culture

7. Kalankuwa Cultural Festival

8. Moro’a Cultural Festival

9. Ninzo Cultural Festival

10. The Zunzuk Dance

11. Tuk-Ham Festival

12. Unum-Akulu Festival

13. Tera Nok Cultural Festival

Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna State

Kaduna state is one of the states with the most tertiary institutions in northern Nigeria, and they include;

1. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

2. Air Force Institute of Technology (Nigeria)

3. Greenfield University Kaduna

4. Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna

5. Kaduna State University

6. National Open University of Nigeria, Kaduna Study Center

7. Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria

Trivia: Do you know that the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria is the first Aviation College in West Africa?

8. Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna

9. Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria

10. Federal College of Education, Zaria

11. The Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology (NILEST)

12. National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT)

13. Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research ( NITR)

14. National Teachers’ Institute (NTI)

15. Dialogue Computer Institute

Kaduna State Emirates

The state has about 32 Emirates and Chiefdoms, including 10 First Class Chiefs and Emirs, 9 Second Class ones and 13 Third class. The State also has a total of 390 Districts heads and 1429 Village heads. The Chairman of the State Council of Chiefs is His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli the Emir of Zazzau.

First Class Emirs/ Chiefs

1. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, Zaria.
2. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Ufuwai Bonet (CON), Oegworok (Chief of Kagoro), Kagoro Chiefdom, Kagoro.
3. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu (OFR) Emir of Jema’a, Kafanchan.
4. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Zubairu Jibril Maigwari II (OFR) Emir of Birnin Gwari, Birnin Gwari Emirate, Birnin Gwari.
5. HIS HIGHNESS, Mal. Tagwai Sambo (OFR) Chief of Moro’a, Moro’a Chiefdom, Manchok
6. HIS HIGHNESS, Dr. Danladi Gyet Maude (OON), Kpop Ham, Jaba Chiefdom, Kwoi.
7. HIS HIGHNESS, Dominic Gambo Yahaya KSM, Agwatyap, Atyap Chiefdom, Samaru Kataf.
8. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Nuhu Bature (OON), Agwam Bajju, Bajju Chiefdom, Zonkwa.
9. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Paul Zakka Wyom, Kpop Gwong II, Gwong Chiefdom, Fadan Kagoma.
10. HIS HIGHNESS, Agom Adara III, Adara Chiefdom, Kachia.

Second Class Chiefs/ Emirs

1. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Gambo Makama, Etum Numana, Numana Chiefdom, Gwantu.
2. HIS HIGHNESS, Suleiman Umaru, Sarkin Lere. Lere Chiefdom, Lere.
3. HIS HIGHNESS, Dr. Danjuma S. Barde, Sa-Gbagyi, Gbagyi Chiefdom, Kakau.
4. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Ja’afaru Abubakar, Sarkin Kauru, Kauru Chiefdom, Kauru.
5. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Alhassan Adamu, Sarkin Kajuru, Kajuru Chiefdom, Kajuru.
6. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Sa’ad Abubakar, Sarkin Kagarko, Kagarko Chiefdom, Kagarko.
7. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Yohanna Akaito (JP), Ere-Koro, Koro Chiefdom, Kubacha.
8. HIS HIGHNESS, Dr. Sa’ad Usman (OFR), Sarkin Jere, Jere Chiefdom, Jere.
9. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Ibrahim Yakubu, Uche Ninzo, Ninzo Chiefdom, Fadan Ninzo.

Third Class Emirs/ Chiefs

1. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Musa Muhammadu Sani, Sarkin Saminaka II, Saminaka Chiefdom, Saminaka.
2. HIS HIGHNESS, Mal. Dauda Abdulsalam Abdullahi, Pukgom Kumana, Kumana Chiefdom, Geshere.
3. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Iliya Ajiya Antang, Chief of Godogodo, Godogodo Chiefdom, Gidan Waya.
4. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Tanko Tete, Tum-Nikyob, Kaninkon Chiefdom, Unguwan Fari.
5. HIS HIGHNESS, Dr. Ishaku Sabo Damina, Bugwam Kurmi, Kurama Traditional Council, Chief’s Palace, Yarkasuwa.
6. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Tobias Nkom Wada, Agwam Takad, Takad Chiefdom, Fadan Attakar.
7. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Sako Gajere, Odyong Nyekpa, Nyenkpa Chiefdom, Barde.
8. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Yohanna Sidi Kukah, Agwom Akulu II, Ikulu Chiefdom, Kamuru.
9. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Musa Didam, Agwam Fantswam, Fantswam Chiefdom, Zikpap.
10. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Yahaya Muhammad, Rs-Tsam, Tsam Chiefdom, Damakasuwa.
11. HIS HIGHNESS, Pukarma Piriga, Piriga Chiefdom, Piriga.
12. HIS HIGHNESS, Alh. Yahaya Mahamud, Chief of Ayu, Ayu Traditional Council, Mayir.
13. HIS HIGHNESS, Mr. Adamu Alkali, Ngbiar Anghan, Anghan Traditional Council, Fadan Kamantan

Facts About Kaduna State

1. Do you know that since the late 1950s, Kaduna has become a major industrial, commercial, and financial centre for the northern states of Nigeria?

2. Do you know that Kaduna almost became the capital of Nigeria during the colonial regime? The project was later deemed too expensive and later discarded.

3. Do you know that the city has cotton-textile spinning and weaving mills. Knit fabrics are also produced in Kaduna.

4. Do you know the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria assembly plant in Kaduna is one of the few surviving plants in the country and the only one in the North?

5. Kaduna state produces 22% of the country’s total maize and 10% of Nigeria’s groundnut supply. There are also about 1.3 million farming households in the state.

Major Markets in Kaduna State

1. Unguwan Dosa Market
2. Kaduna Central Market
3. Kakuri Market
4. Kasuwan Barci
5. Kasuwan Kori
6. Panteka Market
7. Sabongari Zaria Main Market
8. Sabon Tasha Market
9. Station Market
10. Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market
11. Tudun Wada Market
12. Kasuwan Barci market
13. Cecenya Market
14. Giwa market
15. Samaru Market
16. Kasuwan Magani Market
17. Anchau market
18. Barnawa Market
19. Kawo Market
20. Kudenda Market
21. Unguwan Rimi Market
22. Malali Market