Minna

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Minna, Niger state
State Capital and city
From top, left to right: Minna City gate (entrance); Welcome to Minna; Bahago roundabout; Minna central mosque; St. Michael's Cathedral; Tunga roundabout;
Country	Nigeria
State	Niger State
Government
Population  (2007)
• Total	304,113
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Climate	Aw

Minna is a city in Middle Belt Nigeria. It is the capital city of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states. Its original two major ethnic groups are the Gbagyi and the Nupe peoples^[1]

Archaeological evidence suggests settlement in the area dates back to about 47,000–37,000 years ago. Muslim culture filtered into Minna by way of the ancient Saharan trade routes much later, and the city contains many mosques including Minna Central Mosque and Muslim organizations like the Islamic Education Trust, Minna, Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria - Minna Area Council (MSSN-MNAC), Da'watu-Ilallahi-Wa-Rasulihi Association (DAWRA), etc. Sharia law is practiced. Christianity is the second most practiced religion in the city . Popular churches include the Faith Church, Grace Baptist Church, Nupe Kalvari Churches, Anglican Churches, ECWA churches, Baptist churches, Victory Christian Church, the Apostolic Church and many others.^[2]

Minna is the home state of Nigeria's former military President Gen. Ibrahim B. Babangida, and of former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Based on research carried out, it was reported that Minna is being affected by land pollution caused by non-proper disposal of solid waste products. This has cause several disease such as Malaria fever, Yellow fever, Lassa fever, etc.^[3]

Minna has a typical Middle Belt tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with two seasons: an arid, dusty, harmattan-dominate dry season from November to April and a humid, oppressive wet season dominated by monsoonal air masses from May to October. Temperatures are hot to sweltering year round, except at the height of the wet season when air temperatures are merely very warm but the high humidity makes it equally or more uncomfortable than the hotter dry season. Due to the monsoon, summer (June, July, August) is cooler than spring, fall and winter.

The current trend of literary and book art festivals in Nigeria, in the last 15yrs, could be traced to Minna, Niger State, who started her literary and arts festival in May 1995.^[5]

Cotton, guinea corn (sorghum), Maize and ginger are the main agricultural products of the city. Yam is also extensively cultivated throughout the city. The economy also supports cattle trading, brewing, shea nut processing and gold mining. There are also FMCGs such as PZ Cussons that deal in toilet soaps, baby products, medicaments and so on. ^[6] Traditional industries and crafts in Minna include leather work and metalworking.

Minna is connected to neighbouring cities by road. Abuja, the capital of the country, is only 150 km away. Minna is also connected by railroad to both Kano in the north and Ibadan and Lagos in the south. The city is served by Minna Airport.

Minna has many educational institutions, including:Fati Lami Abubakar Institute for Legal and Administrative Studies, The Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger state school of health, Niger state school of nursing and Midwifery, Niger state university of Education among others. With many high schools as Father O'Connell Science College, Minna, Waziri Primary School, Chiroma Primary School, D.S.S Limawa, Kowa Schools, El-Bethel Academy, Jocis Schools, Hilltop Model School, Mypa schools, Himma international school, Police secondary school, El-Amin International School, FOMWAN Schools, New Horizon College, Divine Excellence International Schools and Brighter International Schools, among many others. The above-mentioned schools are the pioneering high schools in Minna. Minna has many primary health clinics with the General Hospital, Minna serving as the general health care.^[7][8]

• Federal University of Technology Minna
• Niger State College of Education
• School of Nursing and Midwifery
• New Gate Science and Technology
• Niger State Polytechnic
• The Federal Polytechnic Bida

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  Niger state Secretariat

• Railway stations in Nigeria
• Minna Airport

9°36′50″N 6°33′25″E / 9.61389°N 6.55694°E / 9.61389; 6.55694