Resources of Nigeria

Subject: Geography Week 4

 Class:      SS1

Topic: Resources of Nigeria

Specific Objectives: By the end of this lesson the students should be able to;

1. Identify and classify the different resources found in Nigeria
2. Locate where these resources are found on the map
3. Explain the importance of these resources to Nigeria

             MINERAL RESOURCES IN NIGERIA

Minerals present and mined in Nigeria include:

1. Petroleum or crude oil and gas: Petroleum is a sedimentary rock mineral found in Portharcourt (River State), Warri and Ughelli (both in Delta State), Akwa-Ibom, Imo State, Abia State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State and Ondo State.

The first oil well in Nigeria was sunk in Oloibiri, in present Bayelsa State. Other oil wells are found in Afam, Ughelli, Warri and Egbema.

Closely associated with petroleum is Natural gas, used for cooking. Petroleum is refined by a method known as Fractional Distillation in refineries located in Portharcourt, Warri, and Kaduna expected to provide products like petrol, kerosene, diesel and grease but today these refineries are not fully functional.                                                                                                                            

 Method of mining petroleum

The method used in mining petroleum is the drilling method. In this method, the underground rocks are sampled and tested for traces of oil. When the oil is discovered, a well is sunk to reach it with the aid of a drilling rig. The oil is then pumped out mechanically or naturally if the pressure within the oil zone in the soil is high. In the soil, three layers within the soil zone exist.

1. Natural gas is found on top
2. Petroleum or crude oil in the middle and
3. Water at the bottom.

2. Coal: This is another source of power. Coal, like petroleum is a sedimentary rock mineral found mainly in Enugu and Okaba (Benue State). The type of coal in Nigeria is the sub-bituminous grade. Coal is mainly used as a major source of fuel in the home and in railway locomotives in the past.

Methods of mining coal

Coal is mined by underground mining or adit method

1. A tunnel or adit is cut into the coal seam,
2. Explosives are used to dig out the coal
3. A light rail car hauls the coal from the tunnel to the surface or into the Lorries from where it is exported to other countries or consumed locally.

3. Iron Ore: Iron Ore is a basement complex rock mineral found in Itakpe (Kogi State) and Aladja (Delta State). Iron Ore is the basis for iron and steel complex found in Ajaokuta (Kogi State) and Aladja near Warri (Delta State). The iron and steel rolling mills are located in Osogbo (Ogun State), Jos (Plateau State) and Katsina (Katsina State).

Method of mining Iron Ore

Iron Ore is mined by a method called open cast method. The process is as follows:  

1. Explosives are used to remove the over burden rocks
2. A powerful machine called a dragline is then used to pile the iron ore into a heap
3. A monitor is then used to direct a powerful jet of water towards the heap
4. The water washes the soil out through a series of sluice boxes
5. The iron ore sinks to the bottom of the sluice boxes while the water carries the dirt away
6. The iron concentrate now formed is later sent to the factory for smelting

4. Tin and Columbite: Tin and Columbite are basement complex rock minerals found near Jos (Plateau State). Tin is used for coating containers in the canning industry while columbite is used in the manufacturing of heat-resistant steel used in jet engines. Tin and columbite occur naturally together. Tin and columbite are mined by a method called open cast method.
5. Limestone: Limestone is a sedimentary rock mineral found in Ewekoro and Shagamu (Ogun State), Ukpilla (Edo State), Calabar (Cross River State), Nkalagu (Ebonyi State), Benue and Sokoto States.

Method of Mining Limestone

Limestone is mined by a method called Quarrying.

1. In this method, the overburden rocks are scrapped off wuth mechanical excavators in order to reach the limestone.
2. The limestone is then shattered with explosives and scooped out by the excavators into trucks waiting to carry it to the factory.

6. Lead and Zinc: Lead and Zinc are sedimentary rock minerals mainly found in Abakaliki in Ebonyi State. They are mainly used in industries locally.

Adverse effects of mining in the area of operation

1. Environmental pollution
2. Global warming through emission of gases
3. Environmental degradation
4. Development of ghost towns
5. Destruction of ecosystem
6. Displacement of settlements
7. Loss of farm and grazing lands
8. Communal conflicts
9. Reduction in agricultural labour force
10. Health hazards i.e. asthma, lung and heart disorders
11. Mining hazards e.g. collapse of mines.

Importance of Minerals  

The presence of minerals in any country does help to promote economic development of the country. In Nigeria, the importance of minerals includes:

1. Mining of minerals provides jobs for many people
2. Government generate revenue from taxes paid by mining companies
3. Raw materials like limestone are used by the cement industry
4. Essential goods or products are derived from minerals e.g. petroleum provides kerosene, petrol, grease, engine oil etc.
5. The export of minerals like petroleum, coal and tin, etc. provides foreign exchange for a country.
6. There is improvement of standard of living from the money earned from the minerals

Evaluation:

1. Mention any four mineral resources in Nigeria
2. What method is used to mine the mineral resources mentioned above
3. State any two uses of each of the minerals mentioned

Assignment:

1. On  a map of Nigeria show the areas where mineral resources are located
2. State any five problems facing mineral exploitation in Nigeria