(a) Draw an outline map of Nigeria. On it, locate and name' (i) The Chad Basin. (ii) The Western Highlands; (iii) One important town in (a)(i) or (ii) above...

(a) Outline map of Nigeria

Key: The shaded north-eastern area is the Chad Basin. The shaded south-western upland area is the Western Highlands (Yoruba Plateau). Maiduguri is an important town in the Chad Basin.

(b) Geography of the Western Highlands

(i) Relief

• The Western Highlands, also called the Yoruba Plateau, are in south-western Nigeria.
• They are mainly underlain by ancient Basement Complex rocks.
• The area is an undulating upland, generally about 300 to 600 m above sea level, rising above the adjoining lowlands.
• It consists of groups of hills, ridges, isolated residual hills and dissected valleys. Some hills are steep-sided.
• Notable hills include the Idanre, Apata, Epinmi and Kukuru hills. A few summits, such as parts of the Idanre and Ilesa hills, exceed 1,000 m.

(ii) Economic activities

• Farmers cultivate food crops such as yam, cassava, maize and vegetables.
• Cash crops grown include cocoa, kolanut, oil palm and rubber.
• Livestock rearing is practised, especially in the more open grassland areas to the north.
• Mining and quarrying occur, including marble at Igbetti, gold around Ilesa and granite quarrying.
• There are industries such as textile production, tobacco processing, rubber processing and other small-scale manufacturing.
• Local crafts include tie-and-dye, weaving and basket making.
• Commercial activities are important in towns, while scenic hills and cultural sites encourage tourism.

(iii) Problems of development

• The hilly and dissected terrain makes the construction of roads, railways, buildings and other infrastructure difficult and costly.
• Removal of vegetation and cultivation on slopes promote soil erosion.
• Many soils are lateritic, leached and relatively infertile, requiring the use of manure or fertiliser for sustained farming.
• High population density, poor physical planning and urban congestion put pressure on land and services.
• Flooding may occur along river valleys in built-up areas.
• Land-tenure problems can hinder large-scale farming and investment.
• Rural-urban migration reduces the labour force available for agricultural production in some rural communities.
• Pollution from industries, quarrying and urban waste creates environmental problems.