WAEC SSCE - Geography - 2014 (Essay)

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(a) Factors accounting for the world's rapid population growth:

1. Fall in death rate: Improved medicine, immunisation, better nutrition and sanitation have greatly reduced deaths, especially infant mortality, so more people survive.
2. High birth rate: Early marriage, large-family preference and low use of family planning in many countries keep births high.
3. Advances in medical science: Control of epidemic diseases and better health care have lengthened life expectancy.
4. Improved food supply: Better farming methods and food distribution reduce famine and starvation.
5. Peace and stability with improved living conditions: Fewer major wars, along with better water supply and housing, allow populations to grow steadily.

(b) Problems of rapid population growth:

1. Food shortage: Food production may not match the growing population, causing hunger and malnutrition.
2. Unemployment: Jobs increase more slowly than the labour force, leaving many people unemployed.
3. Pressure on social services: Housing, schools, hospitals, water and power become overstretched.
4. Overcrowding and slums: Cities become congested, with slums, poor sanitation and rising crime.
5. Environmental degradation: Overuse of land, deforestation and pollution damage the environment and resources.

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(a) Sketch map of Nigeria showing cattle-rearing areas

The shaded and labelled areas are the Sokoto Plains in the north-west and the Mambilla Plateau in the east. Sokoto is a town in one of the cattle-rearing areas shown.

(b) Factors which encourage cattle rearing in Northern Nigeria

1. Availability of pasture: The Guinea and Sudan savanna belts have extensive natural grassland which provides fodder for cattle.
2. Low tsetse-fly infestation: Much of the dry northern savanna is unsuitable for tsetse flies, reducing trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness in cattle.
3. Favourable climate: Rainfall is relatively low and the climate is less humid. This reduces problems such as foot rot and allows cattle to move about easily.
4. Large areas of open land and experienced herders: The relatively sparse population leaves wide, fairly level grazing land. The Fulani have a long tradition and skill in cattle rearing.

(c) Reasons cattle rearing is less important in Southern Nigeria

1. The humid forest belt has many tsetse flies which transmit trypanosomiasis to cattle.
2. Heavy rainfall and high humidity encourage diseases, including foot rot.
3. Dense forest, thick vegetation and intensive crop farming leave little open land or good pasture for grazing, and often cause conflict between herders and crop farmers.

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(a) Characteristics of manufacturing industries in Tropical African countries:

1. Dominance of light/consumer industries: Most factories produce simple consumer goods (food, drinks, textiles, soap) rather than heavy machinery.
2. Processing of primary/agricultural raw materials: Industries mainly process local agricultural and mineral products (oil-milling, cotton ginning, cocoa processing).
3. Concentration in a few urban centres and ports: Industries cluster in large towns and coastal cities where power, labour and markets exist.
4. Small scale and low output: Firms are generally small, with limited capital and low productivity.
5. Heavy reliance on imported capital, technology and skilled labour: Machinery, spare parts, and often expertise are imported from abroad.

(b) Problems of manufacturing industries (in Nigeria):

1. Inadequate/unreliable power supply: Frequent electricity failures raise costs and disrupt production.
2. Shortage of capital: Insufficient finance limits expansion and modernisation.
3. Poor infrastructure: Bad roads, poor water supply and weak transport hinder movement of goods and materials.
4. Inadequate skilled manpower: Shortage of trained technicians and managers lowers efficiency.
5. Competition from imports and small local market: Cheap imported goods and low purchasing power restrict sales.

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(a) Outline map of Nigeria

(b) Characteristics of rivers in Nigeria

1. Most Nigerian rivers have a seasonal regime: their volume rises greatly in the rainy season and falls considerably in the dry season.
2. Many rivers are shallow and carry much silt, giving them a muddy appearance, especially during the rainy season.
3. Rapids and waterfalls occur along many river courses, particularly where rivers cross highland areas.

(c) Benefits of Kainji Lake to Nigeria

1. It generates hydro-electric power at Kainji Dam for homes and industries.
2. It provides fish and employment for fishermen and fish traders.

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(a)(i) Four classes of towns based on their functions, with (ii) examples:

1. Administrative/capital towns: Their main function is government administration. Example - Abuja (Nigeria) or Washington D.C.
2. Industrial/manufacturing towns: Dominated by factories and manufacturing. Example - Aba or Kano (Nigeria); Detroit (USA).
3. Commercial/trading (port) towns: Centres of trade, banking and transport, often ports. Example - Lagos or Onitsha (Nigeria).
4. Mining towns: Grow around the extraction of minerals. Example - Jos (tin) or Enugu (coal) in Nigeria; Kitwe (Zambia).

(Other acceptable classes: educational towns e.g. Ibadan/Nsukka; religious towns e.g. Mecca; resort/tourist towns.)

(b) Ways in which rural and urban areas are interdependent:

1. Food supply: Rural areas supply food and agricultural raw materials to the urban areas, which depend on them for feeding.
2. Manufactured goods and services: Urban areas supply the rural areas with manufactured goods, machinery, medical and educational services.
3. Labour and market: Rural areas provide labour (migrants) to the towns, while the towns provide a market for rural produce.
4. Movement of ideas and capital: Urban centres channel money, technology and new ideas to rural areas, aiding rural development, while rural areas supply raw materials that sustain urban industry.

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(a) Nigeria under the given headings:

(i) Location: Nigeria lies in West Africa, roughly between latitudes 4°N and 14°N of the Equator and longitudes 3°E and 15°E of the Greenwich Meridian. It is bordered by the Republic of Benin (west), Niger (north), Chad (north-east), Cameroon (east), and the Atlantic Ocean/Gulf of Guinea (south).

(ii) Size: Nigeria has a total land area of about 923,768 square kilometres, making it one of the largest countries in West Africa, with a maximum extent of roughly 1,050 km north to south and 1,150 km east to west.

(b) Ways highlands are important to the economy of Nigeria:

1. Sources of rivers: Highlands such as the Jos Plateau and Eastern (Adamawa/Mambilla) highlands are the source of major rivers used for water supply and irrigation.
2. Hydro-electric power: Steep slopes and waterfalls on highland rivers provide sites for dams and HEP generation.
3. Mining: Highlands like the Jos Plateau are rich in minerals (tin, columbite), supporting mining.
4. Tourism and cool climate: The cool, healthy highland climate (e.g. Jos, Obudu) attracts tourists and resorts.
5. Agriculture: Highland areas support special crops (Irish potatoes, tea, vegetables) and grazing on their cooler slopes.