Coping with accelerated soil erosion in Nigeria

Excerpt

BY 1974 Nigeria had witnessed enormous soil degradation. A quick survey of erosion incidents throughout the country revealed the existence of gully, rill, sheet, wind, and coastal erosion. Roads, bridges, houses, and many other structures were seriously affected. Sheet erosion progressed into rills and finally into colossal gullie that threatened lives and properties.

Panic occurred among some groups of individuals, communities, and the state governments. Unfortunately, solutions were not in sight. Gullies continued to expand and more lives and properties were lost. At last, in 1975 and 1980, the Nigerian government assembled experts to survey soil erosion throughout the country and recommend solutions. This marked the beginning of concerted and systematic federal efforts to control erosion.

The setting

Nigeria, located in West Africa, is nearly bisected by longitude 7° east and latitude 10° north. Once politically divided into three main geographical regions—north, east, and west—Nigeria now encompasses 19 states. The former northern region includes Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Gongola, Kano, Niger, and Sokoto States; the eastern area includes Anambra, Imo, Cross River, and Rivers States; and in the west are Oyo. Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, and Bendel States.

Nigeria's two …