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Nigeria: Geography and Environment

Clayton Riggan
Nigeria has a vast amount of geography and climate features that has set a awareness and political conflicts. Nigeria is located between the equator and the tropic of cancer, which gives Nigeria a harsh climate for survival. The average temperature in the southern  subtropical region is 90 degrees fahrenheit. In the northern region the temperature ranges between 60 and 100 degrees (Climate of Nigeria). On the coastal side of Nigeria there are high plains that rise above rolling hills . The southeastern region of Nigeria is a mountainous area with rivers and valleys. In the east and west region , Nigeria has very dense and populated forests which stretches along the coastal zone. Nigeria has many rolling rivers such as the Niger river delta and estuary that cross the rivers. These rivers play a big role in farming,bathing and survival for the people that live in the regions of Nigeria. 

In Nigeria the petroleum industry is booming because of the rich oil that comes out of the beautiful land. The largest oil company  that drills in Nigeria is currently GDP in the west African Nation. Also the oil industries have made the oil business efficient, there have also been countless oil spills in the region. The oil spills take the toll on the environment and wildlife characteristics of Nigeria. “ Oil corporations in the Niger Delta seriously threaten the livelihood of neighboring local communities” (Anup Shah). Do to all of the giant oil corporations taking over the area, smaller tribes and communities are forced out of their homes. Overall as the oil companies drill they are making they are giving energy to the consumer but destroying the environment. When forests and natural habitats for the animals in the area are decimated that means that most of the beautiful land will not exist in the future. 

There is a wide variety of wild life that strives for survival in Nigeria. In the forests live lions, side striped jackals, , wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards, and civets. Most of these animals listed are protected in wildlife sanctuaries  and parks. There are also “survival strategies” that are studied by adventurers and scientists that come across the world. 

An environmental conflict that concerns the Nigerian government is Gully erosion. The erosion mostly occurs when dense forested regions are deforested. The poor surface of the land  causes rainwater to accumulate in one specific area  causing the loss of vegetation to cover the surface.”( Stephan Dale) This conflict is not a natural cause but is from human behavior. If we can manage the impulsively of our consumption of natural products it can ensure the safety of the ecosystem. 

To conclude, the densely forested regions of Nigeria, have became victim of deforestation. This loss has lost many diversity of the wildlife that inhabits the area. Most of Nigeria’s land space is committed to consumption of the natural resources and has had serious human by-products effect the land. 

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