Zaria

Town in Kaduna state, Nigeria, 140 km/87 mi southwest of Kano; population (1992) 345,200. Zaria lies at the intersection of roads from Kaduna, Jos, Kano, and Funtua, and at the rail junction between Nguru and Lagos. There are many light industries including textiles, cigarettes, palm oil, and bicycles. Ahmadu Bello University and several research institutes are situated at Samaru, 11 km/7 mi to the west.

Zaria was founded in the early 16th century and later the same century became the capital of the Hausa emirate of Zaria (or Zazzau). The old town is still enclosed within walls 24 km/15 mi long.