Top 10 Biggest Rivers in Nigeria
Rivers are very significant natural income sources for all countries of the world and Nigeria being a country is not a case in point. It is impossible to overstate the significance of these rivers. They provide clean water, safety, transportation, and, in the majority of cases, free energy production. These Nigerian rivers are also important contributors to the country’s tourist attractions. Rivers are used to provide irrigation systems for farmers, increasing the availability of food for Nigerians. With all these aforementioned purposes, there is no denying that rivers have a significant impact on the economy of whatever nation they travel through.
Two significant rivers in Nigeria are the River Niger and the River Benue. Although the Nile is the world’s longest river, do you know which Nigerian river is the longest? Let’s find out which Nigerian rivers are the ten longest in this article.
TOP 10 LONGEST RIVERS IN NIGERIA
We’ll talk about the 10 largest rivers in Nigeria and their most significant territorial waters.
RIVER NIGER
The longest and largest river in Nigeria is without a doubt the river Niger. This territorial water travels to the Niger delta regions from the country’s northwest. This is the largest river basin in Nigeria and West Africa. It travels 2,597 miles through four additional countries in that region of Africa.
The River Niger has developed into a vital transit route in the areas and nations through which it passes. The River Niger, which runs toward the Nile and the Congo River, is also regarded as one of Africa’s longest rivers.
RIVER BENUE
When it comes to our ranking of the longest rivers in Nigeria, the popular River Benue is the main rival to the River Niger. The second-longest river on our list, the Benue, is about 870 kilometers long.
The River Niger receives water from the River Benue. Nigeria and Cameroon both use the River. It is a crucial mode of travel between these two West African nations. Benue River was formerly referred to as Chadda River or Tchadda. It is the second longest river in Nigeria with a length of around 1,400 kilometers (870 mi).
KADUNA RIVER
The Kaduna river is the third longest river in Nigeria. It is a tributary of the 550-kilometer-long Niger River, which flows through Nigeria.
It was named “Kaduna River” because of the crocodiles that frequented the river and its environs. The word for “crocodiles” in the Hausa language of the local residents was kaduna. The River Kaduna flows through Kaduna State after beginning in Plateau State on the Jos Plateau. Finally, in Niger State, the river merges with the River Niger.
GONGOLA RIVER
The Gongola River is a river that flows across northern Nigeria. It is the River Benue’s main tributary. Over 330 kilometers are covered by the River Gongola’s course.
The majority of the River Gongola’s tributaries and its upper course are seasonal streams, although in August and September they fill up quickly. The Gongola river has been one of the rivers in Nigeria which is used to generate energy. The pressure and speed of the water’s flow are what provide the energy. Many dams in Nigeria are located along the Gongola River.
CROSS RIVER
Cross River is among the longest rivers in the South-Eastern parts of Nigeria. The famed Cross River State in Nigeria gets its name from this river.
The Manyu River serves as the starting point for River Cross, which has a length of about 304 kilometers. The river travels through prominent cities which includes Oron, Calabar, and several places in the Niger-Delta region in Nigeria.
SOKOTO RIVER
The Sokoto River, historically known as Gublin Kebbi, is a popular river that can be found in Nigeria’s north-western region. It flows into the River Niger as well.
Sokoto River has a length and distance of about 199 kilometers. Beginning at Funtua in Katsina State, the Sokoto River travels through several other well-known cities in northern Nigeria. Some cities that it travels through are Birnin Kebbi, Sokoto, and Gusau (Zamfara State).
Because it is the location of the Gusau Dam in Zamfara State, the River Sokoto is also very important economically to Nigeria. This dam creates a reservoir that provides water for home and agricultural uses for the city and its inhabitants. Electricity is also produced at the Gusau dam.
OSUN RIVER
The Osun River seems to be the most highly regarded river in Yorubaland. It is situated in Nigeria’s South-Western region. Most of the South Western states along the River Osun’s southern course lead to the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Gulf of Guinea.
The River Osun is the longest river in South-Western Nigeria and the eighth longest river in all of Nigeria, with an approximate length of 166 miles.
Osun River is one of many rivers in Yorubaland that were purportedly formerly women who transformed into flowing waters as a result of being terrified or enraged by a tragic incident.
ZAMFARA RIVER
The Zamfara River is among the longest bodies of water in Nigeria. The river is situated in Nigeria’s northwestern regions. Zamfara State is where it first appeared.
The Zamfara river traverses a few states in northern Nigeria over a span of around 155 km. The states are Sokoto State (Sokoto River), Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, and Kebbi State.
ANAMBRA RIVER
The Anambra River is an important river in South-Eastern Nigeria. It was split out of the River Niger and given the name by some white men who lived alongside River Niger at that time.
This river travels somewhere between 131 and 132 miles. It passes through a number of well-known locations in Nigeria, including the River Niger, Lokoja, and significant portions of the Niger-Delta region.
Anambra State and the nation continue to benefit economically from the Anambra River, which continues to be a significant landmark.
CONCLUSION
These rivers significantly contribute to the growth of the Nigerian economy. Also, it improves the quality of life for those who reside nearby. Communities that live close to these rivers rely on the water that is produced by the rivers to irrigate their crops, do routine household tasks, and other things.
