ex-Kano

Kano State (Hausa: Jihar Kano جِهَرْ كَنُوَ) is one of the 36 states of Nigeria, located in the northern region of the country. According to the 2006 national census, Kano State was the most populous state in Nigeria. As of November 2025, its population is rivalled only by Lagos State, which does not have clear reporting due to the rate of growth of Lagos, its largest city. Created in 1967 out of the former Northern Region, Kano State borders Katsina State to the northwest for about 210 km, Jigawa State to the northeast for 355 km, Bauchi State to the southeast for 131 km, and Kaduna State to the southwest for 255 km. The state's capital and largest city is Kano, the second most populous city in Nigeria after Lagos. The incumbent governor of the state is Abba Kabir Yusuf. He was sworn in on 29 May 2023.