THE GEOGRAPHY OF NIGERIA-Part one

 The significance of a nation is best known by its cultural and geographical heritage and an empirical evidence with which only history-the book of nature  can provide .In this treatise ,Ibikunle Laniyan, the blogger , unfolds Nigerian history in this first part .Enjoy the reading.

As a precious geographical asset in living Africa and a leading republic in western   Africa bordered by 4047km or 2515sq.mi.with  Chad-87km  in the north east ,Benin-773km in the west , Cameroun -1690km in the East ,Niger-1497km and the Atlantic ocean in the South . Nigeria has extensive coast line of at least 853sq.km with the highest point at Chappal Waddi at 2,419m.or 7,936ft.  .NIGERIA is composed of 36 states  and a federal capital territory with its demographical  aggregate formed into the country interior together gives the country its federal form of government and officially known as the federal republic of Nigeria .

As a republic located in west Africa that shares border  with the Republic of Benin in the west ,Chad and Cameroun in the east ,and Niger in the south with its  coast that lies on the Gulf of Guinea –a part of the Atlantic ocean in the south, the Nigerian people  based on archaeological evidence with extensive history shows human habitation in this region  dates as far back as 9000BCE .The original homeland of the  Bantu migrants is popularly known to be the Benue-Cross River area  who later spread  in most cases across central and southern Africa between 1^st millennium BCE and 2^nd millennium CE  .The name Nigeria was coined by Flora Shaw as the future wife of Baron Lord Lugard-the British colonial administrator in the late 19^th century .It was created from a portmanteau of the two words Niger and Area taken from  the River Niger flowing across the country  . Nigeria is the most populous black country in the world, eight most populous country of the world and the next top eleven economies ,boast of an economy that is the 3^rd fastest growing in the world and by the size of geographical landmass is 32^nd largest country of the world ,comparable to the size of Venezuela ,twice that of California  .With the projection of 9 percent and 8.3 percent in 2009 and 2008 respectively  by the  international monetary funds-IMF speaks volume of the potential of the biggest economy in Africa .

It is the most ethnically  diverse and populated region of the world with rich culture and economy sustained by petrodollar wealth .In precolonial times ,the region once housed several kingdoms and tribal communities .In late 19^th century ,when the British  consolidated its rule ,the colonial era began in earnest and by 1914 both northern and southern protectorates were merged to create that single most precious geographical asset in living Africa known then as the colony and protectorate of Nigeria .She became independence in 1960 to begin  a new epoch of nation building leaping ahead of its rough twists and turns of her turbulent history.

Its geography covers an extensive 923,768 sq.km or 356.669 sq.mi. and measures 1,200km  or 780sq.mi. by width to the west and about 1,050km. or 650sq.mi. from South to North .From the lowlands in the coast and lower Niger valley to the northern high  plateaus and the mountainous eastern border ,such topography as it ranges stretches human amazement  about  the limit of its potential .The landmass composed of productive rivers ,is an ecology that varies markedly from southern tropical rainforest to the far northern dry savannah occupied by animal life and wonderful mix of plant species .The level valleys of Niger  and Benue are broad in most cases coming together to form the largest physical region .From the northwest ,Niger flows in, with northeastern Benue locks in the flow to join the city of Lokoja in  South  Central region and both flow into atlantic ocean through the Niger Delta,forming a Y shaped population densities .In the Niger and Benue valleys ,agricultural development was shallow  compared to other regions .The high plains of Hausaland form the northern Niger valley.It has a relatively low topography  on the average of 800m-about 2,500 ft.beyond the sea level composed of isolated granite croppings .Situated almost to the geographical centre of the country - Jos ,Plateau  forms a stranglehold on the neighbouring plains elevated on the average of 1,300m.or 4,200ft. ,the somewhat lower elevation and sandy soil area is basically to the northeast –the plains of hausaland that grades into the lake Chad inaddition to the northwest,composed of high plains of Sokoto  lowland .

The Yorubaland lies ruggedly left of the Y shaped densities ,southwest of Niger valley .There is a coastal plain and between highlands and the ocean ,it runs wildly on the average of  80km or 50 miles by width from the border stretching from Benin Border to Niger Delta. At the base of Y shaped geography ,lies the delta which separates coast of south west from southeastern coast is composed of 36,00sq.km or 14,000sq.mi.of low lying swampy region and through its multiple channels , waters from tributaries empty into the Delta channels and lagoons to some extent  navigable .The low sedimentary plains as an  extension of southwestern coastal plains form into south eastern coast of Nigeria which lies right of the Y shaped geography .Ab ove all,with prominent series of sandbars ,the Atlantic coastline  covers an extensive 850sq.km.or 530km ,supported by lagoons which is in turn supported by the growth of Mangrove forest.The Benin  and Biafran bights to a large extent flow into the coast ,profiting immensely    from the Guinea current which deposits large proportion of sands,it is composed of straight and scanty natural harbours that required persistent dredging to avoid deposited  sands    .

Besides Udi Hills in north western Enugu, where by dipping the rock strata escarpment have been formed ,the Nigerian border with the Cameroun flows along the same region ,with the eastern highlands made up of unique plateaus and robust ranges . This includes Shebeshi ,Mandara mountains ,Alantika mountains and the Manbila mountains .Dimlang –Vogel peak is located in Shebeshi  at a range of 6,699 ft.or 2,042m.as the highest point in the country is a wonder to behold .

In term of vegetation  and climate disposition ,nature differs extremel from region to region .Rainfalls for instance differs by range across the regions of the nation . The climate densities are controlled by intertropical discontinuity movement –a zone in which Atlantic warm moist air converges with hot and dry and dustridden Sahara air popularly known as Harmattan .In the summer , it flows northward and consequently larger swathe of the country is held under moisture –laden air influence of the tropical maritime air .The zone moves south as Summer departs to exit the rainy season making temperature higher on the average of 25 ‘’ to  28 ‘’C/77’’ to 82’’F throughout the year .Extreme high temperature is prominent in Northern Nigeria in contrast to the South .This is common in the higher elevation  of Jos ,Plateau on the average of 22’’C /72’’F.

The variation of rainfall is evidently portrayed  across distances and regions  every year .Some parts of Niger Delta coast experience all year end rainy season  of more than 4,000m/160 in per annum contrast to middle belt range of between 1,000mm to 1,500mm-40-60inch.In most cases ,in the latter region ,rainy season starts in April or May enduring through September or October .The higher elevations  of  Jos Plateau is conducive to higher rains and dry Savannah experience variable rainfalls overtime and distances .In some places , it lasts barely three months .For instance , the northeastern  border receives less than 500mm or 20in of rain per annum .

In term of vegetation ,it is determined to a larger extent by climate ,soil texture and environmental human impact .It is the same trend in the country where the mangrove forest is lined by brackish lagoons and creeks and dominant in the low lying coastal region.Freshwater is equally dominant in the swampy forest and further inland ,vegetation dovetails into tropical forest  .The tropical forest is composed of tropical hardwood species such as the Iroko, Mahogany,Obeche and the rest of them .Very few reserves are left that could boast of botanical biodiversity  intact  including oil palm species’secondarily preserved for its economic value .

In the northern margin of Guinea savanna or moist savanna –a territory populated by tall trees and tall grasses that lined this sprawling terrain  has remain intact compared to the southern margin of Guinea Savanna extensively altered by man with diluted concentration of species is threatened by uncontrolled human activity .It can be called also as the derived Savanna formed by repeated burning of the forest ,leaving for bare notice ,mere open forest and grassland that contributed immensely to degradation and decimation of plant species  causing  soil erosion .Guinea savanna  has taken over tropical forest .This savanna follows Guinea savanna very closely consisting of drought resistant trees scattered more across the  region.Trees such as baobab ,Tamarind and Acacia are widely distributed in the area .In the northeastern border ,the dry region there is covered by semi-desert sahel savannah.In this drier region ,drought and overgrazing are major problems which led to increasing desertification  and deforestation including degradation of soil resources and vegetation is rampant .

Nigeria is composed of two-thirds watershed of Niger River flowing into the Atlantic through the Niger Delta .With its major tributaries in the Benue trough of the northeast and Kaduna to the west ,Sokoto in northwest and Anambra in the south east .The third largest river in Africa is River Niger and fifth largets by flows and discharge .Some watershed rivers flow into the Atlantic such as southeastern cross of Nigeria and also include south western region .In the north eastern region ,some rivers such as Komadugu Gana and its tributaries flow into the lake Chad which rests as a vital drainage basin center  as strategic  point in  which the country is joined together with Niger,Chad and Cameroun  .Created in the late 60s by kainji Dam on Niger river, kainji lake is another national asset .The construction of irrigation and dams over the years has largely interrupted positive development of sensitive wetland habitats and previously uninhibited ,undiluted species of birds and animals .

For umpteenth time , according to Koppen Climate Classification ,there are four climate types in mainland Nigeria – this comprises of tropical rain forest climate or the equatorial monsoon ;the tropical and dry or tropical Savannah climate ;the Sahel climate and the Alpine  highland mountain climate .Designated as AF the first type is found in the southern region heavily influenced by monsoons  that flowed into the country by maritime tropical airmass .This warm moist sea lands seasonal cyclical winds It has tendency to rise above due to high humidity and warmth features and produce broad rainfall as a consequence of water vapour condensation in a fast growing air.This climate has low temperature range and these ranges spread throughout the year and almost constant .In the Southern part  Warri town is a leading sample with a record of 28’’C or 82.4F.maximum for the hottest  month while the lowest temperature hovers at  26 ‘’C or 78.8’’F.in the coldest month and the difference of the town not more than 2’’C or 5’’F.

Abundant  and heavy rainfall is prominent  in Southern Nigeria with convectional storms rampant  due to the region’s proximity  to the equatorial belt.In this region ,high rainfall  is prevalent  often above 2,000mm or 78.7in.in total received for the coastal region especially the Niger Delta area .For instance ,Bonny Town  receives well over 157.5in. of rainfall  per annum and the rest of South East of between 2,000-3,000or 118.1in. of rain per annum .The experience of double rainfall maximum in Southern Nigeria is somehow unique with two high rainfall peaks  and a short dry season and a longer dry season that fall in between  and after each of these peaks .From March till the end of July and  a peak at June ,the short day break in August  popularly known as August break often follows closely-being a short dry season that last two to three weeks in August .The short rainy season usually break it early from  September and lasting till mid-October  with a peak period or its climax at the end of September .Long dry season usually follows or ends the short rainy of October .This period begins from late October and last till early March with peak dry conditional period between early and late February .

While the tropical wet and dry climate that covers most of western Nigeria to central Nigeria-an extensive zone begins  from tropical rainforest climate and extends to central Nigeria exerting strong influence on the region season .It is composed of both rainy and dry season and a Summer …….Its temperature is often above 164’’F all through the year The temperature range of 18.45’’C or 65’’21 F. to 36.9’’C or 98.4’’F.This is common in federal capital territory  –Abuja.