Katsina is located some 260 kilometres (160 mi) east of the city of Sokoto and 135 kilometres (84 mi) northwest of Kano, close to the border with Niger. In 2016, Katsina’s estimated population was 429,000. The city is the centre of an agricultural region producing groundnuts, cotton, hides, millet and guinea corn and also has mills for producing peanut oil and steel. The city is largely Muslim, and the population of the city is mainly from the Fulani and Hausa ethnic groups.
Former Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua was a nobleman of Katsina.
The current Governor of Katsina is Aminu Bello Masari, who was sworn in as the Executive Governor of Katsina State on 29 May 2015, succeeding Barr. Ibrahim Shema.