Major rivers in Nigeria

There are a plethora of rivers in Nigeria. For instance, each town in the southeastern region of Nigeria has at least two rivers.

For this article, we will stick to just two – Rivers Niger (or Niger River) and Rivers Benue.

Rivers Niger is the largest river in Nigeria and has its source from Guinea highlands – at 9°05′ N and 10°47′ W on the eastern side of the Fouta Djallon (Guinea) highlands, 150 miles (240 km) inland from the Atlantic Ocean – in Guinea.

 It flows all the way from Mali and Niger Republic to Nigeria.

Rivers Benue has its source from eastern highlands and joins Rivers Niger at Lokoja, which known as a confluence town.

Characteristics of Nigerian Rivers

1. The rivers volume changes with seasons
2. Huge presence of rapids and cataracts, which hinders inland navigation
3. Huge presence of debris like dead leaves, mud and woods and human faeces, plastics, broken bottles.
4. Rivers in the south flows in the north-south direction into the sea while rivers in the north flow in a radial pattern in different directions.
5. Most rivers in Nigeria are shallow and not deep.
6. Fishing is seasonal. Fishermen catch more in the rainy season than in the dry season.

Importance of Nigerian Rivers

1. They are one of the means of transportation
2. Through the construction of dams, they generate hydroelectric power supply.
3. Water from rivers can be used for irrigation purposes and also for agricultural activities.
4. Waters from the river is used for cooking, washing etc.
5. Rivers provide employment opportunities for people like fishing, canoe or ship making
6. Rivers sources of food for human consumption e.g. fish, prawns, crayfish and crab.
7. Some rivers are centres of tourist attraction.
8. It may generate foreign exchange for a nation
9. Some rivers are good sites for the construction of seaports and river ports.

Others are

1. Ouémé River
2. Okpara River
3. Ogun River
4. Oyan River
5. Ofiki River
6. Ona River (Awna River)
7. Ogunpa River
8. Osun River
9. Erinle River
10. Otin River
11. Oba River
12. Omi Osun
13. Benin River
14. Osse River
15. Niger River
16. Escravos River (distributary)
17. Forcados River (distributary)
18. Chanomi Creek (distributary)
19. Nun River (distributary)
20. New Calabar River (distributary)
21. Anambra River
22. Benue River
23. Okwa River
24. Mada River
25. Gagere River
26. Bunsuru River
27. Bonny River
28. Imo River
29. Aba River
30. Otamiri River
31. Kwa Ibo River
32. Cross River
33. Calabar River
34. Asu River
35. Aboine River
36. Ekulu River
37. Anyim River