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Difficulty: MediumTransportation, Communication, and Commercial Trade in Nigeria

In Nigeria's domestic commercial trade network, agricultural commodities move between distinct ecological zones to satisfy regional demand. While timber, palm oil, and kola nuts are shipped northward from the humid southern rainforests, which of the following commodity groups forms the major reverse trade flow transported from the northern savanna regions to southern urban markets?

  1. Cattle, onions, and groundnutsAnswer
  2. B
    Cocoa, rubber, and palm kernels
  3. C
    Plantains, cassava, and oil palm
  4. D
    Coal, crude oil, and iron ore

Answer

Cattle, onions, and groundnuts form the primary northern-to-southern agricultural trade flow in Nigeria.
Nigeria's internal commercial trade relies on ecological complementarity. The open savanna of the north provides ideal conditions for livestock (cattle) and crops adapted to drier environments (onions, groundnuts, beans). These items are transported southward to meet dense urban consumer demand, balancing the northward flow of forest products like palm oil, timber, and kola nuts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze regional ecological specialization in Nigeria
Southern Nigeria is characterized by high rainfall and rainforest vegetation suited for tree crops (cocoa, oil palm, rubber, timber), while Northern Nigeria is dominated by savanna grassland and lower rainfall.
Agricultural production and trade flows are directly tied to climatic and vegetation belts.
2
Identify northern agricultural specializations
Northern savanna conditions favor pastoral cattle rearing as well as crops like groundnuts, onions, beans, sorghum, and tomatoes.
The absence of tsetse flies in open savanna facilitates cattle rearing, and drier soil conditions support grain and bulb crop cultivation.
3
Determine the direction of inter-regional trade flow
High urban population density in southern cities creates high demand for meat and northern crops, producing a steady South-bound trade flow of cattle, onions, and groundnuts.
Complementary ecological zones drive domestic trade exchange between northern and southern Nigeria.

Key Concept

Inter-Regional Agricultural Trade Complementarity in Nigeria
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Transportation, Communication, and Commercial Trade in Nigeria

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