Rivers in Nigeria are often blamed for the flooding problems the country seems to not know how to manage. While River Niger and Benue are the major and most popular of the country’s rivers, there are many more rivers the nation must put into consideration if it ever intends to deal with its flooding problems decisively. From northern to southern Nigeria, the following is a comprehensive list of the rivers located in Nigeria.
Names and Locations of Rivers in Northern Nigeria
- Aloma River:
This river flows from Aloma in Benue States, north-central Nigeria to become part of the Oyono River (Cross River) in Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
- Benue River:
One of the two major rivers in Nigeria, River Benue is the major river that flows into the Niger River. The river is about 1,400 km long and prominently located in Nigeria (Lokoja and Makurdi) and Cameroon (Garoua).
- Gadar Tamburawa River:
You will find this river in northern Nigeria, 20 kilometers south of Kano. Tamburawa, a prominent town in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State was named after this river.
- Gongola River:
Located in northeastern Nigeria, the Gongola River is the principal tributary of River Benue and originates from the Jos Plateau. Its length is about 531 kilometers.
- Goulbi de Maradi River:
The Goulbi de Maradi River is situated in north-central Nigeria and south-central Niger. While its source is located near Kastina, it ends where it joins the Rima River which runs southwest to join the Sokoto River, flowing south to River Niger.
- Hadejia River:
Known to the natives as Kogin Haɗeja, this river is a tributary of the Yobe River. Apart from Hadejia, a town located east of Jigawa State, Nguru is also one of the main towns found near the Hadejia River. Nguru is in Yobe State.
- Jama’are River:
Some sources list Jama’are River and Bunga River as different rivers in Nigeria but they are the same. The only difference is the fact that locals at the upper reaches of the Jama’are River call it the Bunga River. From Jos in Plateau State, this river flows northeast, passing through Bauchi and Yobe States to join the Hadejia River which forms the Yobe River.
- Ka River:
Roughly 250 km in length, the Ka River begins in Zamfara State and flows west through Kebbi State to join the Sokoto River which ultimately joins the Niger River.
- Kaduna River:
The Kaduna River also flows into River Niger. Its length is about 550 km and it starts from Plateau State, traveling southwest of Jos into Kaduna State before joining the Niger River in Niger State.
- Katsina-Ala River:
This river is located in Middle Belt, central Nigeria. At a length of about 320 km, it is the major tributary of River Benue. Found mainly in Benue State, its source is in northwestern Cameroon. From there it flows and crosses the Nigeria-Cameroon border before joining the Benue River.
- Komadugu Gana River:
Also known as the Misau River, the Komadugu Gana River is one of the rivers in Nigeria that flows to join the Yobe River which then flows into Lake Chad. This river joins the Yobe River at Damasak in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. It was near this river that the 8,500-year-old Dufana Canoe was discovered; this was back in 1987.
- Ngadda River:
The Ngadda River in Maiduguri, northern Nigeria flows into Lake Chad and the Chad Basin. The river often overflows its banks, especially around the Fulatari community, thereby cutting it off from other communities it depends on for education and healthcare services.
- Rima River:
Joined by the Goulbi de Maradi River at its northernmost point, the Rima River in northern Nigeria runs southwest and flows to the Sokoto River. It then travels south from there until it becomes part of River Niger.
- Sokoto River:
Located in northwest Nigeria, the Sokoto River flows into the Niger River from Funtua in Katsina State. Running through Gusau in Zamfara State, it gets to Sokoto State where the Rima River meets it. Thereafter it flows south, passing through Birinin Kebbi in Kebbi State before it becomes part of River Niger.
- Yobe River:
Also known as the Komadougou-Yobe River, the Yobe River is one of the prominent rivers in Nigeria that flows into Lake Chad. You will find this river lying on the international border between Nigeria and Niger. Rivers that flow into the Yobe River include the Komadugu Gana River, Jama’are River, and the Hadejia River.
- Zamfara River:
Gulbi Zamfara, Gulbu Gindi, and River Gindi are all alternative names for the Zamfara River. People of the regions it flows through before it joins the Sokoto River in Kebbi State have different names for the river. The river originates from Zamfara State in northern Nigeria and ultimately ends up in River Niger.
Names and Locations of Rivers in Southern Nigeria
- Aba River:
This river located in Aba, Abia State, southern Nigeria flows into the Imo River which in turn flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Akwayafe River/ Akpa Yafe River:
Mostly counted among the rivers in Cameroon, you will find that portions of this river lie in the boundary between Cameroon and the southern region of Nigeria. The Akwayafe River flows into the Gulf of Guinea.
- Anambra River:
Many rivers in Nigeria empties into River Niger and the Anambra River is one of them. Known as the Ọmambala River by natives, the river is also released into the Atlantic through various channels.
- Awbana River:
From Mgbidi in Imo State, the Awbana River drains into the Oguta Lake, the largest natural lake also in Imo State.
- Benin River:
One of the rivers in Nigeria that flows through the southwest region of the country, the Benin River empties into the Gulf of Guinea. A few streams connect this river with River Niger, thus it is seldomly regarded as a part of the Niger River.
- Brass River:
Located in Niger Delta, Southern Nigeria, the Brass River is a branch of the Nun River in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. And the Nun River is a branch of the Niger River.
- Bonny River:
This is one of the most popular Rivers in River State, Nigeria. It is said to be a branch of the Niger River in the state.
- Calabar River:
Located in Cross River State, Nigeria, this river flows from the city of Calabar to join the Oyono River (Cross River), the main river in southeastern Nigeria.
- Chanomi Creek:
You will find this body of water in the delta of the Niger River, particularly in Delta State, Nigeria.
- Cross River:
Cross River originates in Cameroon where it is known as the Manyu River. It is one of the main rivers in Nigeria and its major tributary is River Aloma flowing from Benue State
- Donga River:
The Donga River is among the rivers in Nigeria and Cameroon. From the Mambilla Plateau in Eastern Nigeria, the river forms parts of the border between the two countries and then runs northwest to join the Benue River.
- Ekulu River:
The Ekulu River is said to be the largest body of water you will find in the city of Enugu in Enugu State, eastern Nigeria.
- Erinle River:
The Erinle River is located in Osun State, southwest Nigeria. A tributary of the Osun River, you will find most of this river in Ede, and the Otin River also in Osun State flows into it.
- Escravos River:
The Escravos River is one of the distributary rivers in Nigeria. Its name was derived from the Portuguese word “Escravos”, which means slaves. This river flows out of River Niger and travels through the Gulf of Guinea to flow into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Forçados River:
This river has become a prominent channel for small ships in the Niger Delta of southern Nigeria. The Forçados River parts from River Niger in Toru-Abubou, Bayelsa State only to join the sea at the Bight of Benin in Delta State.
- Great Kwa River:
Originating from the Oban Hills in Cross River State, the Great Kwa River is also known as the Kwa Ibo River or simply as the Kwa River. It flows through the state to the Cross River estuary.
- Imo River:
Known as the Imoh River in Akwa Ibom State, the Imo River prominently located in Okigwe, Imo State, is one of the rivers in Nigeria that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Otamiri and Oramirukwa rivers are the major rivers that flow into the Imo River.
- Kwa Ibo River:
This river lies around Umuahia in Abia State, southeastern Nigeria. From here, it flows through Akwa Ibom State and then discharges into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Mmamu River:
There are many legends about this river flowing from Mmaku in Awgu local government area of Enugu State, eastern Nigeria. One forbids the people of the town to fish or kill the snakes in the river. These snakes are said to be harmless, but only to natives of the town.
- New Calabar River:
You will find the New Calabar River resting in delta of the Niger River. To be precise, in Rivers State, southern Nigeria. Much of the history of the Kalabari Kingdom is associated with this river.
- Niger River:
The Niger River is not only the main river in Nigeria but the main river of West Africa. You will find parts of the river in Niger, Mali, Guinea, and Benin. Running across these countries, it ultimately discharges into the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Guinea. The Nile and the Congo Rivers are the only rivers longer than River Niger in Africa.
- Njaba River:
One of the major rivers that flow into Oguta Lake in Imo State, Nigeria; the Njaba River travels through towns like Amucha, Ekwe, Okwudor, Awo-Omamma, and Mgbidi before it gets to Oguta Lake.
- Nworie River:
Nworie River is said to be one of the most polluted rivers in Nigeria. The River flows through Owerri in Imo State and empties into the Otamiri River in Nekede also in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria.
- Oba River:
You will find this river sleeping around Oyo and Osun States in southwestern Nigeria. It is the major river that flows into the Osun River which in turn empties into the Lagos Lagoon and the Atlantic Gulf of Guinea.
- Ogun River:
Like the Oba River, the Ogun River also empties into the Lagos Lagoon. About 300 km in length, this river makes a waterway that runs from Sepeteri in Oyo State through Ogun State before getting to Lagos.
- Ogunpa River:
The Ogunpa River in Ibadan, Nigeria is infamous as it is prone to flooding the city and wreaking havoc. It has claimed hundreds of lives and caused damages estimated at over 30 billion Naira.
- Okpara River:
Typically a river in Benin, some parts of the Okpara River lie at the border between Nigeria and Benin. Because of this, villages found along the river are disputed between the two countries.
- Oli River:
Like the Okpara River, the Oli River also lies between Nigeria and Benin. The river flows into the Niger River.
- Omi Osun:
This river is a tributary of the Ọṣun River. It flows through various towns in Yoruba land and is joined by other rivers to form the Osun river.
- Oramiriukwa River:
You will find this stream in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. Oramiriukwa empties into the Otamiri River which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
- Osun River:
This river is located in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria and then it flows into the Lekki Lagoon in Lagos State. Its main tributary is the Oba River lying both in Oya and Osun States.
- Otamiri River:
This is one of the main rivers in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria. The Otamiri River travels through various towns in the states and gets to Etche in Rivers State before making its way to the Atlantic Ocean.
- Otin River:
Otin River is situated in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. It flows to the Erinle River also in Osun State which flows to the Osun River. As the Osun River empties into the Lekki Lagoon, you can count the Otin River among the rivers in Nigeria that end up in the Lekki Lagoon in Lagos State.
- Orashi River:
Also called the Urashi or Ulasi River, most of this river is seen in Ezeama in Dikenafai, Imo State. It flows through the state to Anambra, Rivers, and then Bayelsa State before reaching the Atlantic.
- Owala River:
This stream is also found in Osun State, precisely in Ifon Osun, the headquarters of Orolu Local Government Area.
- Yewa River:
As much as the Yewa River is counted as one of the rivers in Nigeria, it is also counted among the rivers in Benin. The Yewa River runs along the Bight of Benin and crosses the border between the country and Nigeria in some locations.
