Minna is a city (population 150,000 in 2000) in west central Nigeria. It's the capital of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states.
Cotton, guinea corn, and ginger are the main agricultural products of the city. The economy also supports cattle trading, brewing, shea nut processing and gold mining. Traditional industries and crafts in Minna include leather work, metalworking, and cloth weaving. Minna is also the seat of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), that is located in Bosso.
Minna is connected to neighboring cities by road. Abuja, the capital, is only 150 kms away. Minna is also connected by railroad to both Kano in the north and Ibadan and Lagos in the south. The city also has a small airport.
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 and the city contains many mosques and Muslim organizations.