Zaria

Zaria (formally Zazzau) is a major city in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria and is a local government area. It is one of the original seven Hausa city-states. It's also one of the popular places to visit in Northern Nigeria.

Understand
Zaria has an estimated population of 736,000.

It was a trading destination for Saharan caravans as well as a prominent city in the Hausa slave trade. In the late 1450s, Islam arrived in Zaria by the way of its sister Habe cities, Kano and Katsina. Along with Islam, trade flourished between the cities as traders brought camel caravans filled with salt in exchange for slaves and grain. The city-state's power peaked under Queen Amina whose military campaigns established a tributary region including the kingdoms of Kano and Katsina. At the end of the 16th century, after Queen Amina's death, Zaria fell under the influence of the Jukun Kingdom and eventually became a tributary state itself. Between the fifteenth and sixteenth century the kingdom became a tributary state of the Songhai Empire. In 1805 it was captured by the Fulani during the Fulani Jihad. British forces led by Frederick Lugard took the city in 1901. It was founded in 1536 and later was renamed after Queen Zaria.

The economy of Zaria is primarily based on agriculture. Staples crops include: guinea corn and millet. Cash crops include cotton, groundnuts and tobacco.

Zaria is home to Ahmadu Bello University, the largest university in Nigeria and the second largest on the African continent. The institution is very prominent in the fields of Agriculture, Science, Finance, Medicine and Law. It is also the base for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Federal College of Education Zaria, Barewa College among others.

Climate
Zaria has a tropical savanna climate with warm weather year-round, a wet season lasting from April to September, and a drier season from October to March.

See
Queen Amina’s Wall was built with well-fortified walls to protect the ancient city by Queen Amina of Zaria, who is renowned for her wise military exploits and strategies. This wall still stands majestically in the modern city of Zaria.

Buy
There are many supermarkets visitors can go and buy whatever they need at pocket friendly rate. These supermarkets are:

Go next

 * Kano
 * Kaduna
 * Bauchi
 * Jos