(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...

Answer Details

(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.