Kaduna
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| Kaduna, Nigeria | |
| Province | Kaduna State |
|---|---|
| Government | |
| - Governor | Muhammed Namadi Sambo PDP |
| Population (2007) | |
| - City | 1,652,844 |
| - Urban | 1,652,844 |
| estimated [1] | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+1) |
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 1,652,844. The symbol of Kaduna is the crocodile, called kada in Hausa.
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[edit] History
Kaduna was founded by the British in 1913 and became the capital of Nigeria's former Northern Region in 1917.[2] It retained this status until 1967.
[edit] Religious strife
Due to its religious makeup, Kaduna has been the scene of deadly religious tensions between Muslims and Christians, particularly over the implementation of shari'a law in Kaduna State beginning in 2001. One particular incident in February 2000 saw at least 1000 killed in a particular riot. The city remains segregated to this day, with Muslims living mainly in the north of the city and Christians in the south.[3]
[edit] Education
Kaduna is home to the Nigerian Defense Academy (1964), Kaduna Polytechnic (1968), Ahmadu Bello University (1962), and the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (1951).
[edit] Economy and transport
Kaduna is an industrial center of Northern Nigeria, manufacturing products like textiles, machinery, steel, aluminum, petroleum products and bearings.
Pottery is highly prized from Kaduna, especially from Maraban-Jos, which follows close behind Abuja and Minna. The main highway through the city is called Ahmadu Bello Way. Many of the place names come from past sultans, emirs and decorated Civil War heroes. Kaduna has a large market, recently rebuilt after an extensive fire in the mid-1990s.
There is a large racecourse, approximately one mile round, inside which the Ahmadu Yakubu Polo Club and Kaduna Crocodile Club are situated, whilst the Kaduna and Rugby Clubs are on the periphery. There are two airports, one of which is Kaduna Airport.
[edit] References
- ^ "The World Gazetteer". Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
- ^ Fletcher, Banister; Dan Cruickshank (1996). "Africa", Sir Banister Fletcher's a History of Architecture. Architectural Press, 1466. ISBN 0750622679.
- ^ "BBC News - Kaduna: Nigeria's religious flashpoint". Retrieved on 2007-04-06.
