Kano To Convert 115-Year-Old Prison Into Museum

The Kano State Government has announced plans to transform the historic Kurmawa Maximum Security Prison into a museum as part of efforts to preserve the state’s colonial and cultural heritage.

The 115-year-old facility, located within the Kano Emir’s Palace, was built in 1910 by the British colonial administration. Originally designed to accommodate 690 inmates, Kurmawa has long stood as a symbol of colonial authority and correctional history in Northern Nigeria.

The announcement was made in a post late Sunday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Information, Ibrahim Adam, via his verified Facebook page.

According to the post, all inmates currently held at the Kurmawa Correctional Centre will be relocated to a modern correctional facility in Janguza, located near the military barracks along the Kano–Gwarzo–Dayi Federal Highway.

“Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will transfer all inmates currently at the Kurmawa Correctional Centre to Janguza, while the Kurmawa Correctional Centre will be transformed into a museum dedicated to preserving historical artefacts and promoting the rich culture of the state,” Adam wrote.

The new facility in Janguza, constructed during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has a capacity to hold up to 3,000 inmates, significantly improving the state’s correctional infrastructure.

The state government noted that the transformation of Kurmawa Prison into a museum is expected to attract both local and international visitors and promote tourism and cultural education.

Once completed, the new museum at Kurmawa will add to Nigeria’s 53 national museums spread across states.