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Difficulty: EasyRelief, Physical Regions, and Drainage Systems of Nigeria

Which of the following drainage basins in Nigeria is unique for forming an inland drainage system, where rivers flow inland into a lake rather than discharging directly or indirectly into the Atlantic Ocean?

  1. The Chad BasinAnswer
  2. B
    The Niger Basin
  3. C
    The Cross River Basin
  4. D
    The Sokoto-Rima Basin

Answer

The Chad Basin is the major inland drainage system in Nigeria.
The Chad Basin in northeastern Nigeria is an endorheic (inland) basin. Rivers originating from the High Plains of Hausaland and the Jos Plateau (such as the Hadejia, Jama'are, and Komadugu Yobe) flow northeastward into Lake Chad rather than reaching the ocean.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the drainage destination of major Nigerian river basins
Most Nigerian rivers belong to the Atlantic drainage system (draining into the Gulf of Guinea via the Niger, Benue, or coastal streams), while rivers in the far northeast drain interiorly.
Geographical relief slopes inward toward the Lake Chad depression in northeastern Nigeria.
2
Determine which basin forms an endorheic (inland) system
The rivers of the Chad Basin, such as the Komadugu Yobe (formed by the Hadejia and Jama'are rivers), drain inland into Lake Chad without an outlet to the sea.
An inland drainage basin is defined by water flows terminating in an inland lake or sink rather than reaching an ocean.

Key Concept

Inland Drainage Systems of Nigeria
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Topics

Relief, Physical Regions, and Drainage Systems of Nigeria

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