Theory question 106
Nigeria: People and EconomyCompare the North Central Highlands with the Cross River Plain under the following headings: (a) Relief and drainage (b) People and settlement (c) Economic activities
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(a) North Central Highlands: high plateau (Jos Plateau about 1,200 m, average about 750 m) with hills, volcanic cones and inselbergs; radial drainage, source of rivers (Kaduna, Gongola, Hadejia). Cross River Plain: low-lying basin (about 120-180 m), gently undulating with swampy depressions; drained by the Cross River and its tributaries (dendritic).
(b) Highlands: Hausa-Fulani, Birom, Angas and other groups; dense on the plateau and around Jos, sparse in rugged parts; nucleated hill and plain settlements. Cross River Plain: Ibibio, Efik, Ekoi, Igbo and others; dense in the south, sparser in the north; dispersed and nucleated settlements on interfluves.
(c) Both mainly farming (yam, maize, rice). Highlands: tin and columbite mining, cattle rearing, temperate vegetables and potatoes, tourism. Cross River Plain: oil palm, rubber, cocoa, fishing, lumbering, some petroleum.
Compare point by point under each heading.