Good day NOK READERS
Any geographical conceptualisation discusses the study of earth surface, this includes topography, climate, soil and vegetation, carried out by geographers and the geography usage of delta is the idea of a triangular shape. Thus the Delta is a geographic area of low flat land shaped like a triangle where river is divided into several smaller rivers before flowing into the ocean. This is a combination of river emptying itself into an ocean. There are several of such formations around the world some of which are Mississippi Delta, the Delta of Nile and Nigeria’s own Niger Delta.[1]
The Niger Delta of Nigeria is among the richest deltas in the world. Other major deltas are either famous for crude oil and natural gas (Amazon in Brazil, Orinoco in Venezuela, Mississippi in the U.S.A., Mahakarn in Indonesia) or grow mainly rice (e.g. Indus in Pakistan, Ganges in Bangladesh, Mekong in Vietnam). The Niger Delta which derives its name from the River Niger, is one of the world largest wetlands and African s largest Delta covering some 70, 000km2 formed by the accumulation of sedimentary deposits, transported by the Niger and Benue Rivers.[2]
In relation to this post, Niger Delta is a geographic entity. Niger Delta is viewed as the Delta of the Niger going by geographic definition. The Niger Delta is a vast coastal plain in the southernmost part of Nigeria. It is estimated to cover about 75,000 square kilometres;[3] it is the largest wetland in Africa and the third largest in the world.[4] In K.O Dikes book Trade and Politics in Niger Delta emphasis was made therein that the Niger Delta covers the area from the mouth of River Benin in western Nigeria to Cross River in Eastern Nigeria, about 434Km of the 531km Coast line in Nigeria.[5]
It has also been described by the World Bank has one of ‘Africa’s largest delta’.[6] The topography, climate, soil and vegetation are such that there are evidence’s of swampy areas, gorges, forest, to mention a few. The importance of the Niger Delta lies in its many rivers, which were and is still water ways and routes.[7] The Niger Delta is within the larger Gulf of Guinea. This is made up with marshlands, creeks, tributaries and lagoons.[8] In other words Niger Delta is one of the richest delta in the world , it is also African largest Delta.
The definition despite been accurate is holistic because if going by a stern application of the Niger Delta, some states would be excluded as part of the Niger Delta such as the Ilaje of Ondo State.
With the evidences of observed from Maps drawn to show the Niger Delta. The map thus as has shown that the Niger Delta can be looked at as a geographical region extending from Calabar river to Benin river which can be said to be a continuous region. Also, it is evident in the map below, as well as stated in in Obaro Ikimes work History, The Historian and the Nation, in which he noted that the Niger Delta has a coastal and hinterland, which is watered by rivers and stream which flows through the coastal delta to sea.[9] It is in the area of one of the longest rivers which empties into the Atlantic Ocean between the Bights of Benin and Biafra, in the Gulf of Benin.[10]
The Map Of Nigeria, showing the Niger Delta States.[12]
The Niger Delta Environmental survey(NDES) a non governmental organisation connots the Niger Delta at Aboh to the North, the Imo river to the east, the Benin River to West and down to the Akassa Rivers and Nun estuary to the south.[14]
REFERENCES
[1] PAKI A.E. and EBIENFA, K.I, Militant Oil Agitations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and the Economy. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 5;2011 .p 140
[2] PAKI A.E. and EBIENFA, K.I, Militant Oil Agitations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and the Economy. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 5;2011 .p 140
[3] Cyril Obi and Siri Aes Rusted, 2011, Introduction: Petro-Violence in the Niger Delta- The Complex Politics of an Insurgency: Oil and Insurgency In The Niger Delta: Managing the complex politics of Petro Violence , Cyril Obi and Siri Aes Rusted eds, London: Zed Publishers pp3- 4
[4] Ukaogo, V. 2008. Research Rights and the ‘ New Forms of Conflicts’ in the Niger Delta, 1999-2008. A Journal of the Department of History and Strategic Studies, Vol.8. Apapa: First Academic Publishers. P 96
[5] K.O Dikes, 1956. Trade and Politics in Niger Delta 1830-1885. Oxford
[6]‘World Bank. 1995. Annexes. Wasington, DC: World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/506921468098056629/Annexess
[7] Ogbogbo C.B.N. 2009. Nigeria-Niger Delta Relations 1960-1995.Inter-Group Relations : Nigeria During the 19th and 20th Centuries. Akinwumi .O., Okpeh O.O jnr, Gwamna D. J. Makrudi: Aboki Publishers. P559.
[8] Ogbogbo C.B.N, Oil Spillage and Environmental conflicts in the Gulf of Guinea and Mexico P84
[9] Obaro Ikime, 2006, History, The Historian and the Nation. The Voice of Nigerian Historian. Ibadan: HEBN Publisher Plc. pp 216-218
[10] Cyril Obi and Siri Aes Rusted, 2011, Introduction: Petro-Violence in the Niger Delta- The Complex Politics of an Insurgency: Oil and Insurgency In The Niger Delta: Managing the complex politics of Petro Violence , Cyril Obi and Siri Aes Rusted eds, London: Zed Publishers pp3- 4
[11] Microsoft Encarta, River Niger 2009.
[12] Obi Cyril and Siri Aes Rusted, 2011, Oil and Insurgency In The Niger Delta: Managing the complex politics of Petro Violence , Cyril Obi and Siri Aes Rusted eds, London: Zed Publishers pX
[13] Microsoft Encarta, River Niger 2009.
[14] Niger Delta Environmental Survey (NDES). 1997. Briefing Note 2. accessed 09/11/2017
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