Theory question 107
West Africa and ECOWAS(a) Draw an outline map of West Africa. On it locate and name: (i) one area of dense population; (ii) one area of sparse population; (iii) an important town in each area; (iv) the River Niger (b) Explain four factors that have led to the high density of population in the area shown on your map (c) Highlight two problems of sparse population density
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(a) Map with: dense areas, e.g. south-west Nigeria (Lagos, Ibadan), south-east Nigeria (Onitsha, Owerri), Kano close-settled zone, southern Ghana (Accra); sparse areas, e.g. the Sahel/Sahara in Niger and Mali (Agadez, Timbuktu), middle belt of Nigeria; River Niger drawn from the Guinea highlands through Mali, Niger and Nigeria to the delta.
(b) Fertile soils for farming; adequate rainfall and good climate; mineral resources and industries; employment and commerce in towns and ports; historical factors (old kingdoms, slave raids pushing people to safe areas); good transport; social amenities; urbanisation and migration.
(c) Resources not fully used; small markets; high cost of providing roads and amenities per head; shortage of labour; insecurity; slow development.
Give a named town for each area.