(a) On an outline map of Nigeria, locate and name (i) the four climatic belts (ii) one important town in each belt (b) Describe the seasonal pattern of rain...

(a) Map of Nigeria: climatic belts and towns

On an outline map of Nigeria, from south to north, locate and name the four climatic belts and one town in each:

• Equatorial/tropical rain-forest (maritime) belt (far south) - town: Warri (or Port Harcourt).
• Tropical wet-and-dry / Guinea savanna belt - town: Ilorin (or Ibadan).
• Sudan savanna belt - town: Kano.
• Sahel savanna (semi-desert) belt (far north) - town: Maiduguri (or Nguru).

(A neat sketch map with the belts shown as east-west zones and each town marked is required.)

(b) Seasonal pattern of rainfall (Northern Nigeria)

Northern Nigeria has a single, short rainy season and a long dry season. The rains come with the north-ward advance of the moist south-west (tropical maritime) winds, beginning about May-June and ending in September-October, with a peak around August. Total rainfall is low (about 500-1000 mm) and decreases northwards. For the rest of the year the dry north-east trade wind (harmattan) dominates, giving a long dry, dusty season.

(c) Effects of this rainfall pattern on farming

• Farming is concentrated in the short wet season; planting waits for the first rains and harvesting follows before the dry season.
• Only quick-maturing, drought-resistant crops (millet, guinea corn, groundnut, cotton, beans) can be grown.
• The long dry season limits farming to one crop a year unless irrigation (fadama) is used, and encourages livestock rearing.
• Unreliable or late rains bring the risk of drought and crop failure.