Kano State to Convert Historic Kurmawa Prison into Museum
The Kano State Government has unveiled plans to transform the 115-year-old Kurmawa Maximum Security Prison into a museum, as part of efforts to preserve the state’s colonial and cultural legacy.
The historic facility, which was built in 1910 by the British colonial government, is located within the ancient walls of the Kano Emir’s Palace.
Originally designed to accommodate 690 inmates, Kurmawa Prison has long served as a significant landmark representing both colonial authority and correctional history in Northern Nigeria.
Announcing the development on Sunday via a post on his verified Facebook page, Ibrahim Adam, the Special Adviser on Information to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, said all inmates currently held at the facility would soon be relocated.
“Kano State Government under the leadership of Governor Abba K. 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 stated.
According to the statement, the new correctional facility is located in Janguza, near the military barracks along the Kano–Gwarzo–Dayi Federal Highway. The relocation is part of broader reforms by the state government aimed at modernizing correctional services and enhancing tourism through heritage preservation.
The move has been welcomed by cultural enthusiasts and historians who view the transformation of the prison into a museum as a step toward educating future generations about Kano’s historical significance and colonial past.
Kurmawa, one of the oldest prison facilities in Nigeria, has housed several high-profile inmates over the decades and stands as a monument of the penal system introduced during the colonial era.
The state government is expected to collaborate with cultural institutions, architects, and historians in the conversion process, ensuring the structure’s historical integrity is maintained while repurposing it for educational and tourism purposes.
