II.

Land and Resources

Much of Nigeria consists of a low plateau cut by rivers, especially the Niger and Benue. Most of the country is suitable for agriculture. Its major non-agricultural economic resources are its massive offshore petroleum and natural-gas deposits.

Nigeria can be divided into four distinct geographical regions. Along the coast is a belt of mangrove forests and swamps, stretching some 16 km (10 mi) inland in most places. This region is cut by numerous lagoons and creeks. In the Niger delta region, the coastal belt extends some 100 km (60 mi) inland. Beyond the coast, lowlands follow the valleys of the Niger and Benue, but otherwise the land gives way to a broad, hilly, forested belt that gradually rises to the rocky terrain of the Jos and Bauchi plateaux. Beyond these plateaux is a region of savannah, which stretches to the semi-desert Sahelian zone in the extreme north. A great plain, marked by occasional outcroppings of granite, the savannah region is Nigeria’s main agricultural area. In the east is the Adamwa Plateau, which borders Cameroon and in which is Nigeria’s highest point, Dimlang (Vogel Peak), 2,042 m (6,699 ft) high.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

The Niger River and its tributaries—principally the Benue, Kaduna, and Sokoto rivers—drain most of Nigeria. In the north-east, the rivers drain into Lake Chad. Navigation of the Niger and its tributaries is restricted by rapids and seasonal fluctuations in depth.

B.

Climate

Nigeria has two distinct climatic zones. Along the coast the equatorial maritime air mass influences the climate, which is characterized by high humidity and heavy rainfall. To the north the tropical continental air mass brings dry, dusty winds (harmattan) from the Sahara; the temperature varies considerably with the season, as does rainfall, which is far less than in the south. The main rains occur between April and October; average rainfall ranges from 2,497 mm (100 in) at Port Harcourt on the Niger Delta to 869 mm (35 in) at Kano in the north.

C.

Natural Resources

Iron-ore deposits are widespread in the savannah region of Nigeria, as are salt deposits. Tin and columbite are found in the plateau area. Great deposits of petroleum and natural gas are located in the Niger delta and offshore in the bights of Benin and Bonny (Biafra) of the Gulf of Guinea. Nigeria also has large deposits of coal, lead, and zinc, and small deposits of gold and uranium.

D.

Plants and Animals

Vegetation zones in Nigeria parallel the climatic zones. In the south the well-watered zone is partly covered by the remnants of dense tropical forests that contain hardwoods such as mahogany and obeche. Oil palms are particularly plentiful. In the plateau and savannah regions, forests give way to grasslands and to such hardy trees as the baobab and the tamarind. In the extreme north-eastern Sahel region, semi-desert vegetation prevails. Crocodiles and snakes are found in the swamps and rainforest zones. The large African mammals once indigenous to Nigeria have disappeared in the face of heavy settlement. Some antelope, camels, and hyenas live in the north.

E.

Environmental Concerns

Population pressure in Nigeria has accelerated serious environmental deterioration, and a history of unstable governments has hampered efforts to conserve natural resources. Nigeria has lost about 84 per cent of its total forest cover and around 90 per cent of its moist forests, the remainder of which exist in small reserves. Woodland now accounts for only about 29 per cent (1995) of the country’s total land area.

Nigeria has an organized system of nature reserves, game reserves, and national parks in addition to a forest management system, but most management is carried on at the state level. Law enforcement and protected system infrastructure are lacking, and abuses of protected land are common. The considerable wetlands of Nigeria include vast mangrove swamps along the coast, riverine wetlands, and expansive floodplains. Protection of these wetlands is limited, however, except around Lake Chad. Desertification is a major problem, made worse by massive water impoundment and irrigation schemes. Uncontrolled grazing and livestock migration put tremendous pressure on the environment in some areas. Other environmental threats include poaching and settlement within protected areas, brushfires, increasing demand for firewood and timber, road expansion, and oil extraction activities.

Nigeria is party to the World Heritage Convention, although no sites have been recognized. One biosphere reserve has been designated under the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program. Nigeria has ratified international agreements concerning biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, hazardous wastes, law of the sea, marine dumping, marine life conservation, nuclear test ban, ozone layer, and whaling. Regionally, Nigeria cooperates with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger in the joint management of wildlife in the Lake Chad Basin. The country also participates in the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.