Rivers In Nigeria - 10 Most Important Rivers In The Country

In Nigeria, there are quite a number of rivers that are significant to the people around it. Nigeria which is often referred to as the giant of Africa is endowed with several natural resources which are mostly mined from the earth.

Rivers are said to carry water and nutrients to all areas of the earth. Aside from that, it is said that rivers are an important part of the water cycle because it acts as drainage channels for surface water.

This writing is going to concentrate on only the 10 most important rivers in Nigeria. The other small rivers in the country are said to be seasonal.

Here are 10 Important Rivers In Nigeria

1. River Niger

River Niger is the principal river in West Africa. It is also one of the most famous rivers in Niger. It is known as the longest and the most important river in not just Nigeria but West Africa.

River Niger is the third-longest river in Africa after river Nile and river congo. It covers a distance of 4,1000 kilometers. It runs from the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea. It also runs through several West African countries such as mail, niger, the republic of Benin through Nigeria. The river terminates into the Atlantic ocean through the Niger Delta into the Gulf of Guinea.

The water in the Niger river basin is regulated through dams. Dams like the Kainji dam, Shiroro dam, Zungeru dam, and Jebba dam are used to generate hydropower in Nigeria

2. River Benue

https://youtu.be/JQPqU2HfIhM

The River Benue is formerly known as the Chadda or Tchadda River. The river is approximately 1,400 kilometers (870 mi). The river Benue takes its source from the Adamawa Plateau of Northern Cameroon. It flows towards the west into Nigeria via Garoua town and Lagdo Reservior.

In Nigeria, it flows south of the Mandara Mountains via Jimeta, Ibi, and Makurdi and goes back to river niger which is its major tributary. The river is one of the most navigable rivers in Nigeria because it is an important transportation route in the regions.

3. River Anambra

Rivers in Nigeria — Anambra River (image source)

The river Anambra is said to be an important River Niger tributary below the confluence town of Lokoja. It is located in Anambra state and it derives its name from there. The river flows 210 kilometers into the great river niger.

River Anambra flows into the Atlantic Ocean via various massive deltas which form the Niger Delta in the southern part of Nigeria into the Gulf of Guinea.

4. River Imo

River Imo flows 240 kilometers into the Atlantic Ocean. The river takes its source from Okigwe, Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria. It forms the main tributaries with the Rivers Otamiri and Oramirukwa.

The Imo River is sometimes called the “Inyang Imoh” in Akwa Ibom State which translates to “the river of wealth”. Its estuary is around 40 kilometers wide and the river has an annual discharge of 4 cubic kilometers with 26,000 hectares of wetland.

5. River Ogun

The river Ogun originates in Oyo state in the southwestern part of Nigeria. It has Lagos as its starting point as it discharges into the Lagos Lagoon. The river is originally from Shaki and it flows into Lagos through Ogun state.

The basin size is 23,000km2 and the length is 480km.

6. River Osun

River Osun is a major Nigerian river situated in Osun State. Its main source is Ekiti and it terminates at the Lekki Lagoon in Lagos and Ogun States. This river is believed to be sacred and reserved.

According to local mythology, the River Osun is believed to have formed after women who experienced some traumatic event turned into flowing waters. Because of that, unlawful activities or events are not supposed to take place there.

7. River Kaduna

River Kaduna originates from Jos plateau state. It is a tributary of the Niger River which flows for 550 kilometers. The name Kaduna means crocodiles in the Hausa language. It is believed that crocodiles lived in the river and the surrounding area.

The river flows through Kaduna from Jos and meets with the Niger river in niger state. most of its course passes through open savanna woodland.

The river is said to be a great seasonal fluctuations subject. It is used for fishing and the transportation of local produce. It is also used by the Gwari people for floodplains for swamp rice cultivation and sugar cane production.

8. River Sokoto

This river is located in the northwestern part of Nigeria. it was formerly called Gublin Kebbi or Kebbi river.

River Sokoto takes its source at Funtua, Katsina state, and flows northwestward to Sokoto town. It joins the Rima River in its lowest course to its tributary with the river niger east of Illo.

The plains and alluvial valleys formed by the river are used to cultivate peanuts, cotton, tobacco, swamp rice, onions, sugarcane, and a few other crops. Also, the river serves as an important waterway for the Hausa, Dakarki, and Zabarma peoples.

9. Cross River

The most prominent river in the southeastern part of Nigeria is the river cross river. It flows from Cameroun westwards towards Nigeria and turns in a southwestern direction after its tributary with the Aya River in Niger.

Cross River flows south through the dense tropical rain forest, oil-palm bush, and mangrove swamps. it completed its 304-mile course to the Bight of Bonny through its estuary. The major tributary of Cross River is the river Aloma which flows from Benue state to merge with the cross-river in cross river state,

10. Calabar River

The Calabar River is also located in Cross River State in the southeastern part 0f Nigeria. It flows from the north through the city of Calabar joining with the Cross River to the south. The river forms a natural harbor as deep as 20 feet.

The river has an estimated area of 54,000 square kilometers. The river is good for fishing. It is reported that as of 2000, about 8,000 tonnes of fishes and 20,000 tonnes of shrimp were being caught every year.

River Calabar was once a major source of the route where slaves were brought down to be shipped in the Atlantic slave trade. It is now known as the port of Calabar which is important in the exportation of palm oil and other products.

Here are other rivers that can be found in Nigeria: