WAEC Geography 2010 Theory question 109

Theory question 109

Geography of Africa

(a) Draw a sketch map of Africa. On the map show and name; (i) two oil producing areas; (ii) one town in each of the areas in (a)(i) above. (b) Highlight any three contributions of oil to the economic development of one of the areas shown in (a)(i) above. (c) Describe any three problems affecting the mining of petroleum in one of the areas shown in (a)(i) above.

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a) Map with e.g. Niger Delta (Port Harcourt/Warri), Libya's Sirte basin (Tripoli/Benghazi), Algeria's Hassi Messaoud, Angola/Cabinda (Luanda), Gabon (Port Gentil).
(b) Foreign exchange; government revenue for development; employment; raw materials for petrochemical industries; energy; growth of towns and infrastructure; foreign investment.
(c) Pollution (oil spills, gas flaring) and conflict with host communities; difficult terrain (swamps, creeks or desert); shortage of skilled local labour and dependence on foreign firms; high cost; fall in world oil prices; pipeline vandalism and theft; insecurity.

Explanation

Keep (b) and (c) to one area.