The document provides an overview of environmental issues and challenges in Nigeria. It describes Nigeria's physical features, climate, hydrology, geology, relief, vegetation, mineral resources, and major environmental problems. Key issues discussed include rapid population growth, land degradation through deforestation, desertification, and erosion, challenges with water resources management, and the impacts of climate change. The document presents detailed information on Nigeria's environment to support understanding issues and informing solutions.

1. Environmental Issues and
Problems in Nigeria
Dogara Bashir
Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission
Lead presentation at the Capacity Building Workshop
on
Green Teacher Programme held at National Teachers
Institute, Kaduna, Nigeria on 19-23 June 2017

2. 2
Outline of Presentation
1. Characteristics
a) Physical Features and Economy
b) Climate
c) Hydrology and Drainage
d) Geology and Groundwater
e) Relief
f) Vegetation and Land Use
g) Mineral Resources
2. Environmental Issues and Challenges
a) Population and Human Settlement
b) Human Health
c) Land Degradation
d) Water Resources Management
e) Biodiversity Depletion
f) Climate Change
3. Conclusion

3.  Located in West Africa (3°N - 14°N &
3°E - 15°E)
 Total area - 923,768km2
 Land area - 910,768km2
 Water area - 13,000km2
 Water ways - 8,600 km
 Population - 140m (2006 census)
- 160m (2011 est.)
 Population growth - 3.2% (2011)
 Nominal GDP (2011) - N37.4t
(US$240b)
 GDP per capita - US$1,470
 GDP growth rate - 3.5%
 GDP composition of sector (2011)
o agriculture: 31%
o oil & gas: 41%
o manufacturing: 2%
o services: 26%
 Oil and gas (2011)
o 41% of GDP
o 95% of foreign exchange,
o 65% of budgetary revenue
 Population below poverty line - 58%
Physical Features and Economy
3

4. Nigeria is characterized by the tropical wet and
dry climate type
Nigeria’s climate is majorly affected by two air
masses:
 Tropical maritime air masses (south-west trade
wind) blowing over the Atlantic ocean towards
the coast and is responsible for rainy season
 Tropical continental (north-east trade wind)
blowing across the Sahara desert and is
responsible for dry season
 Where the two air masses meet is called inter-
tropical convergence zone and dictates the
rainfall amount and length of the rainy season
Amount of annual rainfall decreases inland
from about 3,000 mm in the extreme south-
south to less than 500 mm in the extreme
north-east of the country
Warm desert
climateWarm semi-arid climate
Tropical savanna climate
Monsoon climate
Climate: Rainfall
4

5. Like most tropical countries, Nigeria is
a hot climate country except for few
areas at higher altitudes such as the
Jos, Mambila and obudu plateaus
The diurnal and seasonal temperature
ranges generally increase inland from
the coast
Climate: Temperature
5

6. Hydrology and Drainage
The Nigerian river systems are
hydrologically divided into four
drainage systems that are
subdivided into eight hydrological
areas (HA) as follows:
1. Niger-Benue drainage system;
a) Niger North (HA-1)
b) Niger Central (HA-2)
c) Upper Benue (HA-3)
d) Lower Benue (HA-4)
e) Niger South (HA-5)
2. Western Littoral drainage system
(HA-6);
3. Eastern Littoral drainage system
(HA-7);
4. Lake Chad drainage system (HA-8)
6

7. Hydrological
Area
Area
(103km2)
Rainfall
(mm/year)
Related RBDAs Related States Population (106)
(2010) (2030)
HA-1 Niger
North
135.1 767 Sokoto-Rima Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto,
Kebbi
17.1 27.2
HA-2 Niger
Central
154.6 1,170 Upper Niger,
Lower Niger
Niger, Kwara, Kaduna, Kogi,
FCT
17.0 31.5
HA-3 Upper
Benue
156.5 1,055 Upper Benue Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe,
Bauchi
12.2 19.4
HA-4 Lower
Benue
74.5 1,341 Lower Benue Plateau, Nassarawa, Benue,
Kogi
8.3 13.9
HA-5 Niger
South
53.9 2,132 Anambra-Imo,
Niger-Delta
Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Kogi,
Anambra, Rivers
19.6 31.1
HA-6 Western
Littoral
l 99.3 1,541 Ogun-Osun,
Benin-Owena
Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun,
Ondo, Edo, Ekiti
35.9 57.8
HA-7 Eastern
Littoral
57.4 2,106 Cross River Abia, Anambra, Imo, Enugu,
Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa
Ibom, Rivers
20.8 32.6
HA-8 Lake
Chad
178.5 610 Hadejia-Jama'are,
Chad
Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno,
Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa
27.4 44.4
Hydrology and Drainage
7

8. There about 155 dams of
various sizes constructed
around the country with a
total reservoir capacity of
about 37BCM of water for
various uses that include:
irrigation, hydropower
generation, water supply,
flood control, acquaculture,
and recreation.
8
Hydrology and Drainage
Most of these dams are not optimally utilized. The utilization
of large dams constructed principally for irrigation and/or
water supply range from less than 5% to 10%.

9. Geology and Groundwater
Groundwater is used for water supply, private
irrigation, livestock and aquaculture
throughout the country
About 58,000 boreholes, both motorized and
handpump, are used for public water supply,
pumping amount of 460 m3/day
Average depth of boreholes in the basement
complex area is 50 m with yields ranging from
10 to 150 m3/day
in sedimentary rock areas, depth of boreholes
range from 50 to 400 m, with yields ranging
from 10 to 500 m3/day
Operation rate of boreholes in Nigeria is about
60% due to frequent breakdown of pumps.
The geology of Nigeria comprises of sedimentary and basement complex
rocks of approximately equal surface areas with varying ages and water
resources potentials
9

10. HA
Groundwater
Potential
(MCM/yr)
Groundwater
Demand (MCM/yr)
2010 2030
HA-1 6,217 297 872
HA-2 19,802 309 907
HA-3 14,182 185 639
HA-4 14,051 148 410
HA-5 32,145 408 1,194
HA-6 22,304 1,183 1,937
HA-7 27,906 357 996
HA-8 5,634 624 1,453
Nigeria 142,241 3,512 8,407
Geology and Groundwater
10

11. Altitude wise, Nigeria is characterized by two
major reliefs:
1) Highland/Plateau: These are areas above
300 m above mean sea level and such
areas in the country are grouped as
follows:
a) the north-central highlands that cover
high plains of Hausaland and Jos Plateau
b) the Western uplands that cover most of
the highlands of south-western States
c) the eastern highlands – Nigeria’s highest
zone that cover Adamawa and Mandara
mountains, Biu plateau and Obudu and
Oban hill
d) the eastern scarpland that covers the
eastern region including the Nsukka/Udi
plateau
Relief: Highlands/Plateaux
11

12. 2) Lowlands: These are areas below
300 m above mean sea level
covering areas along sea coasts
and valleys of major rivers. Such
areas include:
a) Sokoto plains in the north-west;
b) Niger-Benue trough in the north-
central;
c) Chad Basin plains in the north-east;
d) Coastal lowlands in the south-west;
e) Cross River lowlands; and
f) Lower Niger-Delta
Relief: Lowlands
12

13. From the extreme south to the extreme north,
Nigeria is covered by seven different
vegetation zones that are categorized into
three major groups as follows:
1. Forest vegetation
a) Lowland rainforest
b) Freshwater swamp forest
c) Mangrove forest and coastal vegetation
2. Savanna (grassland vegetation)
a) Northern guinea savanna
b) Sudan savanna
c) Sahel savanna
3. Montane vegetation
From these and the rainfall regimes, six agro-
ecological zones are delineated in Nigeria:
humid forest, mid altitude, derived savanna,
southern guinea, northern guinea and arid
semi-arid
Vegetation and Land Use
13

14. The thickness of the
vegetation cover decrease
progressively northward
from mangrove swamp
forest in the south to desert
conditions in the extreme
north-east
Vegetation and Land Use
14

15. Type Description
Mangrove,
Freshwater/
seawater Wetland,
Tropical Rain Forest
These cover areas with more than1,500 mm/year in precipitation. The
mangrove areas are mostly along the coastal line of the Gulf of Guinea
gulf. The freshwater/tropical rain forests exist toward the inland areas
which are covered by dense evergreen trees.
Guinea Savanna Guinea Savanna cover areas in which the rainy season lasts from 6 to 8
months with annual rainfall of 1,000 -1,500 mm. It covers areas from the
southern to middle belt of the Nigeria, which is the most typical vegetation
type in Nigeria. Due to extensive and intensive agricultural and other
human activities, most of the Guinea Savanna has secondary vegetation.
Sudan Savanna Sudan Savanna cover areas in which the rainy season lasts from 4 to 6
months with annual rainfall of 600-1,000 mm. This is the dominant
vegetation in northern Nigeria and is characterized by grassland of 1- 2 m
in height. Typical tree species are Acacia and baobab.
Sahel Savanna Currently, Sahel Savanna is found only in the extreme north-east of
Nigeria, around Lake Chad area where rainy season does not last more
than 4 months with annual rainfall of less than 600 mm. This area exhibits
desert like conditions and the typical tree species is Acacia.
Vegetation and Land Use
15

16. Vegetation and Land Use
Area (km2) Ratio (%)
Forest 46,038 5.1
Grassland/Shrub 197,164 21.7
Agriculture 586,516 64.5
Wetland 37,449 4.1
Water body 10,555 1.2
Urban Area 5,344 0.6
Others 26,891 3.0
Total 909,958 100
The dominant land uses in Nigeria are:
o Agricultural land (60%);
o Grassland and shrub (22%);
o Forest (5%); and
o Wetland (4%)
Source: NWRMP 2013
16

17. Nigeria is blessed with a variety of
mineral resources; the major ones are:
a) Coal mostly found in Enugu, Benue,
Kogi and Gombe States;
b) Tin mostly found in Plateau, Benue,
Bauchi and Kaduna States;
c) Iron Ore mostly found in Kogi and
Osun States;
d) Oil and Gas mostly found in Akwa
Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia
and Imo States, and off-shore;
e) Limestone mostly found in Sokoto,
Kogi, Benue, Enugu, Cross River
and Ogun States; and
f) Gold mostly found in Niger, Osun,
Kaduna, Ekiti and Sokoto
Mineral Resources
17

18. 18
Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material
resources
However, most of the environmental issues and
challenges facing the country arise in the processes of
exploitation and utilization of these rich resources
The major environmental challenges include:
• Population, Human Settlements and Environmental Health
• Land Degradation
• Water Resources Management
• Biodiversity Depletion
• Climate Change
Environmental Issues and Challenges

19. 19
Population and Human Settlement
 Nigeria’s population is
increasing rapidly reaching an
estimated 180 million in 2016
 Poverty, exacerbated by high
unemployment rate, manifests
in low per capita income
resulting to up to 60% of the
population living below poverty
line

20. 20
Population and Human Settlement
 Population density has
increased tremendously
in the urban areas
putting increasing
pressure on the limited
resources,
infrastructure and
amenities
 Environmental pollution
due to inefficient waste
disposal systems
Cities kg/cap/
Day
Tonnage/
month
Yearly
Tonnage
Abuja 0.281 14,684 176,213
Yenagoa 0.23 14,246 170,952
Kaduna 0.23 44,433 533,199
Kano 0.56 156,676 1,880,112
Katsina 0.32 18,452 221,424
Ilorin 0.25 34,560 414,720
Lagos 0.73 255,556 3,066,672
P/Harcourt 0.7 117,825 1,413,900
Sokoto 0.281 15,255 183,024
Aba 0.31 64,347 772,164
Onitsha 0.7 84,137 1,009,644

21. 21
Human Health
Due to unplanned and increasing
population and poverty, Nigeria
is highly prone to a number of
environment related diseases
and infections including:
o Malaria
o CSM
o Cholera
o Diarrhea
o Guinea-worm
o River Blindness
o Schistosomiasis
o Tuberculosis
o HIV/AIDS

22. 22
Land Degradation
There are a variety of natural and
human induced activities that
result in land degradation. These
include:
o Deforestation
o Drought and desertification
o Erosion
o Flood
o Oil pollution

23. 23
Land Degradation: Deforestation
 The need for farmland,
timber, fuel wood and
urbanization are the major
cause of the
unprecedented
deforestation in Nigeria
 Most of the primary forest
in Nigeria has disappeared
 This result in increasing
the other land degradation
factors such as
desertification, erosion
and flooding

24. 24
Land Degradation: Desertification
 38% of Nigeria’s total land area
 1/3 national population
(53,333,311)
 50% - 75% of the DFS’s
threatened
 260,000 km2 facing serious
desertification problems
 rate of desertification ≈ 0.6
km/yr
 critically affected States: Borno,
Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and
Sokoto,
Desertification Frontline States (DFS)

25. 25
Land Degradation: Desertification…
Causes of Desertification:
 Deforestation: mainly due to increasing demands for agricultural
lands and fuel wood.
 Overgrazing: Most of the facilities in the grazing reserves have
deteriorated, encroachment on reserves and livestock routes –
farmers/herders conflicts
 Annual Bush Fires: land clearing in preparation for agricultural
activities, and trapping of games
 Soils erosion: absence of vegetation exposes the land to serious
water and wind erosion.
 Poverty: Both a cause and a consequence of desertification
 Climate Change: increasing and reoccurring drought as a result of
decreasing rainfall

26. 26
Land Degradation: Erosion
 About 10% of the country’s
land mass is under severe
erosion problems with more
than 50% of the affected areas
concentrated in the
southeastern Nigeria
 There is also wind erosion in
the extreme north and coastal
erosion in the extreme south.

27. 27
 According to credible reports,
Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu and
Ebonyi States have over 750, 650,
500, 400 and 250 major erosion
sites respectively. This gully
census is conservative and
incomplete since smaller and
young gullies were not
enumerated. These younger
gullies shall ultimately mature
within next year and pose as
serious a hazard as older ones" –
Egboka (2006)
Land Degradation: Erosion…

28. 28
Land Degradation: Flood
Every year floods in various parts of
Nigeria have been reported to
cause the death of many people,
forced thousands of people from
their homes, and destroyed scores
of houses and many social and
economic infrastructures such as
farmlands, industries, schools,
roads and bridges Nguru-Hadejia Federal Highway - August 2004

29. 29
Water Resources Management
 The dismal performances of the large and
capital intensive dams and irrigation schemes
have clearly shown that the necessary
competence and willingness to effectively
operate and manage such schemes are lacking
in Nigeria.
 Furthermore, these large dams have been
shown to promote the desertification processes
as their impacts on their downstream ecology
have resulted in the desiccation of extensive
floodplains and destruction of fishery
resources and wildlife habitats; as well as
reduction of ground water recharge.
 These have resulted in loss of unique
biodiversity and livelihoods thereby
exacerbating poverty

30. 30
Water Resources Management…
KANO
NGURU GASHUA
KATAGUM
HADEJIA
BAUCHI
JOS
KANO STATE
JIGAWA STATE
BAUCHI STATE
YOBE STATE
DUTSE
BORNO STATE
GOMBE STATE
R.Yobe
R.Fakate
R. Gau
R. Gulka
R. Gari
Hadejia-Nguru
Wetlands
Challawa
Gorge Dam
Tiga Dam
KRIP
HVIP
Proposed
Kafin Zaki Dam
 Hadejia-Jama’are-Komadugu-Yobe Basin

31. 31
Biodiversity Depletion
 The habitats for the various and flora
and fauna (biodiversity) in Nigeria are
increasingly destroyed through the
following human induced activities:
 Deforestation
 Construction and operation of dams
 Excessive and unregulated use of
agricultural chemicals
 Bush burning
 Urbanisation
 Oil pollution
 Gas flaring

32. 32
Climate Change
 Climate Change impacts on the environment are basically linked to
“too much or too little”
 The IPCC concluded that:
o climate change is projected to impact on the frequency and
magnitude of both floods and droughts
o flood hazards will increase over more than half of the globe,
including tropical Africa
o Meteorological droughts (less rainfall) and agricultural droughts
(drier soil) are projected to become longer, or more frequent, or
both, because of reduced rainfall or increased evaporation or both
o In wetter regions, more intense seasonal droughts can be
managed by current water supply systems and by adaptation
o Coastal areas are increasingly susceptible to erosion and
submergence due to increasing threat of sea rise
(IPCC, AR5 WGII, Chapter 3, October 2014)

33. 33
Climate Change…
Climate
Change
Higher
rainfall
more pressure
on sewerage
systems
Increased
overflows
Increased risk
of diseases
spread
Climate
Change
Higher
temperatures
stimulate
spread of
diseases
Increased incidence
of waterborne
diseases
Climate
Change
Higher
temperatures
Introduction
of new
diseases
Increased
incidence of
diseases
Climate
Change
Lower stream
flows Increased
salinity
Use of
contaminated
surface waters
Drying up of
groundwater

34. 34
Climate Change…
Contribution of agriculture to climate change
o Agriculture is estimated to be directly responsible
for about 14% of the total greenhouse gas
emissions
o Deforestation accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas
emissions
o In the last 150 years, 476 billion tonnes of carbon
has been emitted from farmland soils due to
inappropriate farming & grazing practices such as:
• deforestation
• biodiversity loss
• accelerated soil erosion
• loss of soil organic matter
• salinisation of soils
• costal water pollution and
• acidification of the oceans

35. 35
Climate Change…
 Food and Fiber Production
 Provision of Clean and Sufficient Water
 Maintenance of Biodiversity
 Maintenance of Human Health
 Storage and cycling of Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
Agricultural
Lands
Coastal
Zones
Forest
Lands
Freshwater
Systems
Arid Lands &
Grasslands
Climate change will affect the ability of ecological systems to
provide a range of essential ecological goods and services
Source: Robert Watson (2008). IPCC Synthesis Report, Part I

36. 36
CONCLUSION
o Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and material resources
o However, most of the environmental issues and challenges facing
the country arise in the processes of exploitation and utilization of
these rich resources
o The country is operating a federal system of government with three
tiers of government that are mostly autonomous
o Constitutionally, environmental management is on the concurrent
list.; meaning all the 3 tiers of Government manage the
environment
o Environmental management is a cross-cutting issue affecting and
being affected by the activities of the various sectors of the
economy
o Consequently, there is need for effective coordination mechanisms
for synergy and for sustainable environmental management

37. 37
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