Plateaus of Nigeria

Plateaus of Nigeria
Name	Plateaus of Nigeria
Elevation m	1200–1800
Location	Nigeria, West Africa
Coordinates	9°55′N 8°52′E

Plateaus of Nigeria

The plateaus of Nigeria form a network of elevated highlands across Nigeria, including the Jos Plateau, Obudu Plateau, and Mambilla Plateau. These uplands interlink with the West African Highlands and influence river systems such as the Niger River, Benue River, and Cross River. The plateaus have shaped interactions among groups like the Hausa people, Tiv people, and Ekoi people and have been central to colonial and postcolonial projects by entities such as the Royal Niger Company and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate.

Geology and Formation

The geology of Nigerian plateaus reflects Precambrian basement rocks, Nigerian Basement Complex, and younger volcanic episodes tied to the Benue Trough and the Cameroonian Line. Weathering of gneiss and schist on the Jos Plateau produced lateritic soils studied by geologists associated with the University of Ibadan and the University of Jos. The Mambilla Plateau rests on basalt flows and continental uplift related to the breakup of Gondwana and the rift systems connected to the Atlantic Ocean opening. Tectonic events recorded in the Anambra Basin and the Chad Basin influenced erosion patterns feeding into the Niger Delta and Lake Chad. Volcanic plugs and ring complexes on the Jos Plateau mirror features found near the Cameroon Mountains and Mount Oku, landmarks studied by researchers from the British Geological Survey and the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency.

Major Plateaus and Locations

The prominent highlands include the Jos Plateau in Plateau State and Bauchi State, the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State adjacent to the Cameroon border, and the Obudu Plateau in Cross River State near the Oban Hills. Other uplands comprise the Akwanga Plateau near Nasarawa State, the Gembu Plateau linked to Sardauna Local Government Area in Taraba State, and the Afikpo Uplands in Ebonyi State. These plateaus border lowlands and basins such as the Benue Valley, the Niger Floodplains, and the Cross River Basin. Towns and cities on or near the plateaus include Jos, Bauchi, Mambilla Town, Obudu, Jalingo, and Maiduguri which serve as regional administrative centers during eras of the Northern Region, Nigeria and modern federalism in Nigeria.

Climate and Ecology

Plateau climates vary from tropical savanna to montane, influenced by seasonal monsoons from the Gulf of Guinea and harmattan winds originating near the Sahara Desert. The Jos Plateau supports montane grasslands and patches of Afromontane forest that host endemic flora studied by botanists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the National Botanical Garden of Nigeria. The Mambilla Plateau features montane grassland and cloud forest favored by species recorded by the IUCN and the BirdLife International Nigeria program, including migratory birds that traverse routes to the Sahel. The plateaus are home to mammals and reptiles noted in fieldwork by the World Wide Fund for Nature and herpetological surveys linked to the Zoological Society of London.

Human Settlement and Land Use

Highland environments attracted precolonial communities such as the Tarok people, Jukun people, and Berom people who developed terrace farming and cattle grazing practices observed by anthropologists from the London School of Economics and the University of Ibadan. Colonial administrators from the British Empire established administrative stations and mining townships on the Jos Plateau, spurring labor migrations involving the Igbo people and Yoruba people. Contemporary land use includes subsistence farms, commercial tea and coffee plantations on the Obudu Plateau influenced by investors linked to Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture initiatives, and pastoral corridors used by Fulani herders. Plateau towns host universities and research centers like the University of Jos and the Taraba State University that collaborate with international partners such as the African Development Bank.

Economic Resources and Agriculture

Mineral wealth on the plateaus includes tin, columbite, and gold deposits mined on the Jos Plateau during the colonial mining boom managed by firms like the Nigerian Mining Corporation and international partners. The Obudu Plateau and Mambilla Plateau support cash crops including tea, coffee, and temperate vegetables promoted in projects by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank. Hydropower potential on plateau rivers has been assessed by engineers working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for small-scale schemes feeding into the Power Holding Company of Nigeria grid. Plateau grazing lands sustain cattle movements important to traders in regional markets such as Jos Main Market and Yola Market connected to trans-Saharan and coastal trade routes historically dominated by the Kanem-Bornu Empire and later by colonial trade networks.

Environmental Issues and Conservation

Environmental challenges include soil erosion, deforestation, and land degradation exacerbated by mechanized tin and columbite mining linked to companies regulated by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act and by illegal mining groups monitored by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Habitat loss threatens endemic species highlighted in conservation assessments by the IUCN Red List and in programs led by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund. Climate variability affecting plateau water catchments has prompted watershed management projects funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Protected areas and initiatives such as regional nature reserves proposed with support from the United Nations Environment Programme and academic research at institutions like the University of Jos aim to reconcile biodiversity conservation with livelihoods of plateau communities including the Berom and Tarok peoples.

Category:Geography of Nigeria Category:Plateaus of Africa