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Drainage and Relief of Nigeria 2

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NIGERIA: RELIEF AND DRAINAGE

Relief refers to the surface features of the land above the sea level. The relief of Nigeria can be
grouped into two main classes. These are lowlands and highlands.
Lowlands

These are areas below 300m above sea level. Areas of lowlands in Nigeria include the following.
1. The Sokoto Plain (200 – 300m)

2. The Niger – Benue Trough / Valley (100 – 300m)


3. The Chad Basin or Bornu Plain
4. The Niger Delta (0 – 100)
5. The Cross River Basin (120 – 180)
6. The Coastal Plain (0 – 100)
7. The interior coastal lowland of western Nigeria (100 – 300m)
Rocks associated with lowlands
1. The coastal plain: Sedimentary rocks of alluvial deposit.

2. Niger – Benue trough: Sedimentary rocks such as limestone, sandstone and shale.
3. Sokoto plain: Sedimentary rocks like sand, clay, sandstone and limestone.
4. Chad basin: Sedimentary rocks of sand and clay.
Rocks generally are known to be associated with lowlands are sedimentary rocks.
Importance of lowlands
1. Plains, especially level ones are good for human habitation. Population and settlement are
usually concentrated on plains.
2. Some plains are rich sources of minerals like petroleum, coal, etc.
3. Plains, especially depositional plains are very fertile for agriculture.
4. Plains,since they are level, favours communication such as roads, railways, and airports.
5. Rivers and plains (basin) provide jobs e.g. fishing.

6. Rearing of animals is also better done on level grounds.


7. Some plains have rivers which provide water for so many purposes.
Disadvantages of plains
1. Some plains, especially in delta areas, may be flooded with water. Flooding is an
environmental hazard.
2. Someplains may pose a serious barrier to communication, especially in flooded areas.
Highlands

These are areas that are over 300m above sea level. Areas of highlands in Nigeria and their
height include the following:-
1. The North-Central highlands
2. The Western highlands
3. The Eastern highlands
4. The Eastern scarp land
The north-central highlands:
This lies in the centre of Northern Nigeria around Kano, Kaduna Bauchi, Jigawa and Plateau
State. The most important highland in these areas is the Jos Plateau (200 – 1500m). Rivers
like Hadeija, Kaduna, and Sokoto etc. take their sources from Jos Plateau. The highest point of
Jos Plateau is Shere Hills (1650m).
The western highlands:
This is found in the Western part of Nigeria around Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, and Osun State.
Important hills in this area include the following:-
1. Idanre hill (950m)

2. Apata hill (400 – 700m)


3. Epeme
hill (350 – 600m
Three important rivers have their sources from these highlands. They are river Ogun, Osun and
Osse.
The eastern highlands:
This is found in the border between Nigeria and Cameroun. They have the highest mountain in
Nigeria. They include:-
1. Mandara Mountain (1200 – 1500m)

2. Biu Plateau (800 – 1000m)


3. Adamawa Mountain (1800 – 2400m)
4. Alantika and Shebshi Hills (1600 – 2000m)
5. Obudu and Oban hills (1200m)
Rivers found in these areas are River Gana, Ngodo and Yedseram which flow to Lake Chad.
The eastern scarp land:
This is found within the eastern region especially around Enugu and Nsukka. The only major
highland found in this area is the Udi Nsukka plateau (300 – 600m). Important rivers include
Anambra, Imo and Cross River.
Rocks associated with highland
1. Northcentral plateau, Western highland, Mandara Mountain, Shebshi, Alantika,
Obudu and Oban hills are made up of basement complex rocks (a combination of
igneous and metamorphic rocks).
2. Jos plateau is made up of volcanic rocks.
3. Udi hills are made up of Carboniferous sedimentary rock.
Importance of highlands
1. Sources of mineral.
2. Formation of rainfall, especially orographic rainfall.
3. It is used for defence in times of war.
4. It serves as Windbreaks.
5. They are a good source of rivers.
6. The rivers provide the site for construction of Hydro-Electric Power (HEP).
7. They provide tourist centres.
8. They
are used for transhumance.
Disadvantages of mountains
1. Barriers to communication.
2. Mountains promote soil erosion.
3. Mountains occupy the good land that would have been used for other purposes.
4. They prevent human habitation.
5. Mountainous soils are poor in nutrients, therefore, are not good for agriculture.

DRAINAGE

Drainage refers to water bodies like rivers and lakes.


Rivers in Nigeria:
Nigeria is drained by two main rivers – River Niger and River Benue. River Niger is the largest
river in Nigeria and it has its source from Guinea highlands in Guinea. It passes through Mali
and Niger Republic to Nigeria and empties itself in the Atlantic ocean.
River Benue has its source from the eastern highlands and joins River Niger at Lokoja.
Lokoja, because of this, is known as confluence town. Other rivers in Nigeria take their
sources from highlands in Nigeria known as Hydrological centres. These are:
1. Western highlands: They have rivers such as Ogun, Osun and Osse.

2. North-central
highlands: They have rivers such as Kaduna, Hadeija, Zamfara, Yobe,
Gana, Gongola and Rima.
3. Eastern highlands: They have rivers such as Donga and Katsina-Ala.
4. Eastern
scarp lands: They have rivers like Anambra and Cross River.
Characteristic of Nigerian rivers
1. The volume of the rivers changes with seasons. It increases during the rainy season
and reduces during the drying season.
2. Presence of rapids and cataract. This impedes inland navigation.
3. Presence of debris like dead leaves, mud, wood, etc.
4. Short courses with high speed.
5. Specificdirection of flow. Rivers in the south flow in the north-south direction
while rivers in the north flow in a radial pattern to different directions.
6. Shallowness.

7. The colour changes with the season.


8. Seasonality:Most rivers flow during the rainy season and stop or reduce flowing to
flow during the dry season.

Importance of Nigeria rivers


1. Medium of transportation.

2. Generation of Hydro-Electric Power (H.E.P).


3. Irrigation purposes.
4. Domestic uses.
5. Industrialuses.
6. Provision of employment.

7. Recreation/Tourism.

8. Source
of food supply (fishes, etc).
River basin in Nigeria

River basin refers to the area generally drained by a river. A river basin is also known as a
catchment area. In Nigeria, there are five major river basins. These are:-
1. The Niger basin

2. The Benue basin


3. The Chad basin
4. The Cross River basin
5. TheSouth Atlantic basin
The rivers in these basins are grouped into 3 classes:
1. Long rivers with large basin e.g. River Niger and Benue.

2. Short rivers with small basin e.g. River Osun, Ogun, Cross River etc.
3. Rivers
in basins of inland drainage: These are rivers that do not reach the sea but rather
flow into Lake Chad. Examples are River Yobe, Hadeija, Gana and Yedseram.

Importance of river basin


1. Good site for settlement.

2. Provision of suitable lands for agricultural purposes.


3. The medium of communication due to the presence of rivers.
4. Presence of some mineral deposits.
5. Provision of water.
6. Provision
of sites for fishing.
Lakes in Nigeria

A lake is a body of water surrounded by land. The lakes are grouped into two major types:
1. Man-made or artificial lakes: They are lakes constructed by man e.g. lake kainji on
River Niger and Shiroro lake on River Kaduna.
2. Natural lake: These are lakes which exist naturally e.g. Lake Chad.
Groundwater exploration
Most of the liquid freshwater resources are stored underground as groundwater (99 %). The
regional distribution on Earth, however, varies and depends essentially on climatic conditions as
well as the subsurface geology. In contrast to many raw materials, a large part of the
groundwater is renewed in the hydrologic cycle by percolating precipitation or infiltration of
surface water.
Only a detailed knowledge on groundwater resources allows a sustainable use with adapted
management. Groundwater exploration therefore goes far beyond the classic sinking of new
boreholes and aims at understanding the groundwater system as a whole. Important parameters to
be determined are the spatial extent, the hydraulic storage properties of the host rock, the
interactions with under- and overlying aquifers or surface waters, and the spatial and temporal
variations of groundwater properties. Groundwater recharge, natural discharge, and extraction
rates must also be known for sustainable management. An important aspect for the use of
groundwater is also its age, since many deep aquifers contain very old or fossil groundwater that
is not or only partially renewable.
Today, groundwater exploration uses a multidisciplinary methodological approach based on the
analysis of large-scale geology and tectonic conditions. For the spatial exploration of
groundwater, geophysical and remote sensing methods play a central role. Among geophysical
methods, electrical (geoelectrics) and electromagnetic methods (transient
electromagnetics and airborne electromagnetics) are most commonly used to explore
groundwater conditions because aquifers, aquitards and bedrock often differ in the measured
quantity of resistivity or electrical conductivity.
The groundwater exploration techniques are classified into Arial, Surface, and Sub-Surface that
have been improved from traditional methods to the high technology-based techniques.

Aerial Method

Aerial exploration is the most convenient method for locating watersheds of basins within large
areas. The aerial photos are captured through remote sensing techniques, which obtain credible
information about the earth’s surface without any physical contact. These photos are captured in
black & white colour. This process is found to be very effective in identifying the geomorphic
units, structures like faults, joints, fractures, folds, and drainage because they play a crucial role
in controlling the movement and occurrence of groundwater.

Some of the advantages of the Aerial Method are:

 Cost-friendly
 Time-saving study
 Provide more ground surface information compared to topographic maps
 This study is easy to carry out
Surface Methods

It is the most common, time-saving, and easy-to-operate method for groundwater exploration.
The surface methods of groundwater exploration consist of different techniques such as esoteric,
geology, geomorphology, geophysics, hydrogeology, soil & Microbiological Methods, etc.

 Esoteric Method:

This is the oldest groundwater exploring technique, also known as the water-dowsing or water-
divining method. This is not a scientifically proven method, but the traditional people believed
the flow of groundwater can induce current above the ground surface. Wet twigs of trees, husk-
free coconuts, and other similar materials were used as divining materials in this method.

 Geological Method:

The geological method is based on the principle that groundwater occurrence and movement
directly depend on the area’s geology. The geological study begins with collecting and analysing
aerial photographs, topographic maps, and other vital records. It is most pertinent to undertake a
depth study on the type of terrain, lithological units, and geological structures such as lineament,
fold, joints, and fracture systems for groundwater exploration.

 Geomorphological Method:

This method is essential to ascertain the potential to access the groundwater. Streams and
watercourses are controlled by varying landforms, originating due to geological processes.
River-borne modern alluvial terraces, floodplains, Moraine deposits, glacial outwash are some of
the positive landforms for groundwater. Geomorphic units such as flood plains, soil types,
lineaments are the factors that control the occurrence of groundwater.

 Hydrogeological Method:

The hydrological setup of an area is also a factor in creating groundwater potential. This method
helps to evaluate the potential of groundwater for a given area/basin. In the absence of this
investigation, the evaluation of groundwater potential tends to be stuck only in the geophysical
study.

 Soil & Microbiological Methods

Studies have proven that the lush green forests and other botanic indicators are valuable tools in
groundwater exploration. The growth of crops, vegetation, forests with big trees, location of
aged, deep-rooted trees can help indicate groundwater occurrence at shallow depth. Various
characteristics & nature of some plants help find out the location & types of groundwater.

Sub-surface Method

This groundwater exploration method includes Test Drilling & Borehole Geophysical Logging
techniques. Test drilling is an easy and direct method to reach the groundwater source. However,
it is not feasible for every individual due to the high cost. That is why these sub-surface methods
are comparatively more expensive than the surface methods.
REFERENCES
Akinmosun, A., Odewande, A.A., and Akintola, A.I. (2005). Geochemical composition and
Textural Features of some Carbonate Rocks in Parts of South Western Nigeria. Ife
Journal of Science. 7(1):101-111.
Obaje N. G. (2009). "4 -The Benue Trough". Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria.
Springer.P.57. ISBN 3- 540-92684
Philips, R.I., Folorunso, A.F., Nton, M.E., and Oluwalaanu, J.A. (2009). Evaluation of Turonian
Limestone Formation exposed at NIGERCEM-Quarry Nkalagu, Southeasthern Nigeria;
A geochemical approach. Pacific Journal of Science.and Technology. Vol. 10 (2) Pp763-
771.
Shishaye HA, Abdi S (2016) Groundwater Exploration for Water Well Site Locations Using
Geophysical Survey Methods. Hydrol Current Res 7: 226.
Tesfaye C (1993) Hydrogeology of Ethiopia and water Resources Development, Ethiopian
Institute of Geological Surveys, Ministry of Mines and Energy. Addis Ababa.
Zeru G, Alamirew T, Tadesse N, Olmana M (2015) Aquifer Characterization and Parameter
Estimation of Haramaya Well Field from Surface Geophysical Method. Haramaya,
Oromiya National Regional State.

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