A Review of the Hydrogeological Framework and Groundwater Resources Management in Nigeria: Current Status and Future Trend

Abstract

This paper aims to review the limited groundwater data that is available, despite Nigeria's substantial surface and groundwater resources. It does this by highlighting recent findings and highlighting the impact of geological formations on the distribution and classification of groundwater across hydrogeological zones. The findings highlight how crucial it is to understand the hydrogeological features of each groundwater basin in order to manage and safeguard Nigeria's groundwater, which is more plentiful than its surface water resources and vital to its sustainability in the future.The groundwater resources is controlled by the local geological conditions, aquifers recharge, which influence well yields and amount of rainfall over the area. Major aquifers are dominantly in the sedimentary platform of Nigeria (above 50%).However, to meet up MDGs objectives,subsurface component must be inclusively in other make subsurface groundwater available for all Nigeria. The review also revealed poor hydrology and hydrogeology data are major problems in management of groundwater resources and sustainability in Nigeria.For essential sustainability, an extensive knowledge of resource management is required. Understanding the availability of groundwater and the mechanisms that recharge and renew it, reflects key sustainable exploitation of the resource. Hence this study tends to evaluates Nigeria groundwater resources potential and provides a framework of the hydrogeology.