9 The Land Resources of North East Nigeria A/blume1 The ...

METHOD
This study has attempted to apply the Land System concept, broadly in the sense of
Christian and Stewart (1964), to the environmental classification of a substantial area,
176 000 km 2 (68 000 mi 2 ). Description of the main parameters at the land facet level for 123
land systems has also been attempted and the whole employed as a framework within which land
use data and recommendations are classified and presented. The study has been largely
agroforestal in emphasis but it is hoped it will prove useful in such other fields as
engineering and industrial planning.
The data and recommendations are presented in terms of "natural units' , but since State
planning procedures are largely based on administrative units, a set of administrative overlays
for the larger scale maps has been provided for the North-Eastern State authorities.
Attention should be drawn to the efforts in Volume 4 and in the appendices in Volume 5, to
provide areal estimates of land facets and the vegetation/land use patterns upon them.
Subsequently, quantified data, fundamental to land use and development planning, can be
derived from the estimates.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC STUDIES
Prom the large quantity of bibliographic material accumulated during the project only
references strictly relevant to each volume have been retained. It is however being arranged
for a subject land resource bibliography to be issued in conjunction with this study
(Posnett et al., 1972).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To thank everyone associated with this study would be a monumental task as there must be few
relevant organisations and arms of government in Nigeria that have not assisted willingly and
generously in the implementation of the various projects. To complicate matters further,
following administrative changes, some of the organisations deeply involved at the inception
of the projects no longer exist. Special mention must however be made of the efforts and
support, often in times of difficulty and even national emergency, of :
The Ministry of Animal and Forestry Resources and Ministry of Agriculture of the
former Northern Nigerian Government (whose work with regard to this project later
devolved upon the North-Eastern State Ministry of Natural Resources); the Federal
Tsetse Control Unit, including elements of the former Ministry of Health's Sleeping
Sickness Service; and the Interim Common Services Agency.
The Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, primarily
through the agency of the Soil Survey Section and the Shika Research Station.
The British High Commission and Trade Commission, Kaduna.
A study of this nature must use the accumulated knowledge of organisations and individuals
conversant with the project area. Every attempt has been made to acknowledge sources of data
and individuals in the text of the report and the assistance of all concerned is most
gratefully acknowledged. The organisations primarily concerned are :
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
North-Eastern State, Ministry of Natural Resources
North-Eastern State, Ministry of Works
North-Eastern State, Ministry of Health
Federal Surveyor General
Surveyor General, ICSA (Interim Common Services Agency)
Surveyor General, North-Eastern State
Nigerian Geological Survey
Federal Tsetse Control Unit
Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research
Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru
Savanna Forestry Research Station, Samaru
Nigerian Meteorological Services
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