Gusau, city in northern Nigeria, in Zamfara State. Gusau is located on the Sokoto River in the savanna region of Nigeria. The river provides access to water supplies during the dry season. Gusau serves as a major industrial center of northern Nigeria. Industries in the city include textile manufacturing, groundnut and tobacco processing, and cotton ginning. The city is active in mining the deposits of gold and diamonds in the surrounding countryside. Gusau is connected by roads and a railroad to other cities in the region; the city also has a regional airport. The city is part of the HausaFulani- cultural region of northern Nigeria. It has a substantial Muslim population and contains numerous mosques and Muslim organizations. Archaeological evidence suggests that Gusau was occupied by Old Stone Age (37,000-15,000 years ago) peoples and many quartz tools from this period have been found in the area. Gusau previously served as a leper colony. Population (1995) 154,000.
