Kaduna

The state of Kaduna was founded in 1912 by British colonial ruler Lord Frederick Lugard. Throughout its colonial history, it served as the political, administrative and economic centre of the north of Nigeria. As an academic centre with many tertiary educational institutions, Kaduna earned the nickname “the Centre of Learning”. In recent years state authorities have worked to develop Kaduna’s business climate. The Kaduna State Infrastructure Master Plan is the state’s long-term strategy for coordinated infrastructure development. The plan lays out interventions in the key sectors of transportation, housing, education, health, water and sanitation, and agriculture, with total projected expenditure amounting to N20trn ($53.4bn). The plan aims to ensure that Kaduna becomes a model for urban development by 2050 as it leverages its strategic location in the northern urban corridor. This chapter contains an interview with Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.