Katsina State history and capital, Katsina State Local Government Areas and senatorial districts in Katsina State. The post also has Local Government Area that make each Katsina State Senatorial Districts.
Katsina, state, north-central Nigeria. It was formed from the northern half of Kaduna state in 1987. Katsina is bordered by the Republic of Niger to the north and by the Nigerian states of Jigawa and Kano to the east, Kaduna to the south, and Zamfara to the west.
The state consists largely of scrub vegetation with some wooded savanna in the south. It is mainly inhabited by Muslim Hausa (the Katsena [Katsenawa], Kano [Kanawa], and Bugaje branches) and Fulani peoples and by a few Maguzawas (animistic Hausas). Farming is the chief occupation; peanuts (groundnuts) are the main cash crop, but cotton is important in the south. Millet and sorghum are grown as staple foods, and there is vegetable gardening in riverine floodplains. Most of its peoples own cattle, sheep, or goats, and hides and skins are sold for profit. Katsina town is the state capital and largest settlement; it has a steel-rolling mill and a polytechnic college. The state is served by the main highway between Kano and Maradi (Niger). Area 9,341 square miles (24,192 square km). Pop. (2006) 5,792,578.
The Katsina Royal Palace ‘Gidan Korau’ is a huge complex located in the centre of the ancient city. It is a symbol of culture, history and traditions of ‘Katsinawa’. According to historical account, it was built in 1348 AD by Muhammadu Korau, who is believed to have been the first Muslim King of Katsina. This explains why it is traditionally known as ‘Gidan Korau’ (House of Korau). It is one of the oldest and among the first generation palaces in Hausaland, along with Daura, Kano and Zazzau. The palace was encircled with a rampart, ‘Ganuwar Gidan Sarki’ (which is now gone). The main gate which leads to the palace is known as ‘Kofar Soro’, while the gate at the backyard is called ‘Kofar Bai’ (now gone). The Emir’s residential quarters at the epicenter of the Palace is a large compound built in the typical Hausa traditional architectural style.
The state is predominantly Muslim, and Gobarau Minaret is an important building. Sharia is valid in the entire state. The Church of Nigeria has a Diocese of Katsina. The Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Roman Catholic Church are fairly present in the state.
The economy of the State is basically agrarian with a cultivable 2.4 million hectares of land out of which 1.6million is under cultivation, leaving land area of 800,000 hectares, equivalent to one third of the total cultivable land available for investment. The state also has over 61 water bodies suitable for irrigation farming with a capacity of 1121CU.m. The major water bodies with a combined water surface area of 558Cum are located at Sabke, Jibia, and Gwaigwaye.
Farming and rearing of animals constitute the means of livelihoods of about 80% of the population of the state. The state is a major collection centre for cash crops such as cotton, groundnuts and food crops such as maize, guinea corn, millet, and vegetables. The range of livestock in the state is cattle, sheep, goat and poultry. These provides huge opportunities for setting up of large scale agro-allied industries such as sugar processing, rice milling, oil and flour milling, textiles, dairy production, confectioneries, meat processing, tannery, and poultry production, etc.
Katsina State Senatorial Districts
There are three (3) senatorial districts in Katsina State. Namely: Katsina Central, Katsina North and Katsina South.
Katsina Central Senatorial Zone / District consist of eleven (11) Local Government Area counsel.
- Batagarawa Local Government Area
- Batsari Local Government Area
- Charanchi Local Government Area
- Dan Musa Local Government Area
- Dutsin-ma Local Government Area
- Jibia Local Government Area
- Kaita Local Government Area
- Katsina Local Government Area
- Kurfi Local Government Area
- Rimi Local Government Area
- Safana Local Government Area
Katsina North Senatorial Zone / District consist of twelve (12) Local Government Area counsel.
- Baure Local Government Area
- Bindawa Local Government Area
- Daura Local Government Area
- Dutsi Local Government Area
- Ingawa Local Government Area
- Kankia Local Government Area
- Kusada Local Government Area
- Mai’adua Local Government Area
- Mani Local Government Area
- Mashi Local Government Area
- Sandamu Local Government Area
- Zango Local Government Area
Katsina South Senatorial Zone / District consist of eleven (11) Local Government Area counsel.
- Bakori Local Government Area
- Dandume Local Government Area
- Danja Local Government Area
- Faskari Local Government Area
- Funtua Local Government Area
- Kafur Local Government Area
- Kankara Local Government Area
- Malumfashi Local Government Area
- Matazu Local Government Area
- Musawa Local Government Area
- Sabuwa Local Government Area
The Katsina State has the following ranking in agricultural production and in other business spaces such as;
1. The largest producer of cotton;
2. The second largest producer of sorghum;
3. Produces 13% of Nigeria’s sugarcane, placing it in second place in Nigeria;
4. The World Bank ranked the State 7th in ease of doing business ahead of Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Cross Rivers;
5. The State ranks 12th in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) development and growth;
6. The State was ranked 17th in Gross State Product with average per capita of $6,022; and
7. Major producer of other cereals and legume crops
Katsina state is blessed with abundant mineral resources that could be tapped for industrial growth. Prominent amongst these include: lead, iron oxide, gold, iron ore, manganese, kaolin, silica sands, fire clay, asbestos, feldspars, mica, serpentine, gemstones, precious stones among others.
The population structure determined by the high crude birth rate (56 per 1,000), and high but declining crude death rate (15 per 1,000) is characterized by a young population, high dependency ratio and low geriatric age group. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in 2007 was 1,000 per 100,000 live births. The birth rate represents strain on maternal and child Health (MCH) Services. Trained health personnel take in deed only about 65% of deliveries. The leading causes of MMR include spontaneous abortion, haemorrhage, anaemia, obstructed labor, eclampsia, etc. the total fertility rate is about 6.7 children per women. This is quite high and reflects in the rapid growth in population
Katsina State Local Government Areas
Katsina State has thirty-four (34) Local Government Areas. They are:
Bakori
Batagarawa
Batsari
Baure
Bindawa
Charanchi
Dan Musa
Dandume
Danja
Daura
Dutsi
Dutsin-Ma
Faskari
Funtua
Ingawa
Jibia
Kafur
Kaita
Kankara
Kankia
Katsina
Kurfi
Kusada
Mai’Adua
Malumfashi
Mani
Mashi
Matazu
Musawa
Rimi
Sabuwa
Safana
Sandamu
Zango
