(a) Highlight five problems of development of the Cross River Basin. (b) In what five ways can these problems be solved?

(a) Five problems of development of the Cross River Basin

• Shortage of capital: The huge cost of building dams, roads and other facilities is difficult to raise.
• Dense forest and difficult terrain: The thick tropical rainforest and rugged, swampy land make clearing and construction slow and expensive.
• Heavy rainfall and flooding: Very high rainfall causes flooding and erosion, which damage farms, roads and structures.
• Poor transport and inaccessibility: Bad roads and few bridges make movement of people, materials and produce difficult.
• Pests and diseases: The humid environment breeds pests and disease vectors (such as tsetse fly and mosquitoes) that affect labour, crops and animals.
• Shortage of skilled manpower: Few trained personnel are available to plan and execute development projects.

(b) Five ways these problems can be solved

• Provision of funds: Government should provide adequate funds and attract loans and foreign investment to finance projects.
• Construction of roads and bridges: Good roads and bridges should be built to improve accessibility.
• Flood and erosion control: Dams, drainage channels and afforestation should be used to control flooding and erosion.
• Control of pests and diseases: Vector control, drainage of swamps and provision of health facilities should be undertaken.
• Training of manpower: Skilled workers should be trained and experts employed to plan and manage development.
• Clearing and land preparation: Use of modern machinery to clear the forest and prepare the land for farming and settlement.