6 Notable Natural Resources In Calabar, Nigeria And Their Economic Values

See the 6 notable natural resources in Calabar, Nigeria and their economic values. Calabar, Nigeria is widely known for its tourism, but the city is blessed with several natural resources scattered throughout the city.

Natural resources are gift of nature, if properly harnessed it can bring in great wealth to a state. For example, the United Cement Company has been able utilize the limestone present in the city to build a thriving business employing thousands of people in Calabar.

 

Quick Facts about Calabar, Nigeria

  • Calabar is the capital city of Cross river; one of the states located in south-south Nigeria.
  • It was formerly known as Akwa Akpa in Efik.
  • The population of Calabar as at the 2006 census is 371,022.
  • It has two major centre; Calabar municipal and Calabar south Local Government. It has a total land area of 460 sq. Km.
  • The language spoken by the people of Calabar is Efik.

Read Also: Notable Dance Groups in Calabar and Surrounding Communities of Cross River state

 

Notable Natural Resources in Calabar

There are a number of notable natural resources in Calabar, but only some can be found in commercial quantities. A large percentage of these natural resources are still under exploited hence depriving the state of the wealth it could have made from these resources.

  • Limestone
  • Gravels
  • Brine
  • Clay
  • Forest
  • River

1. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – Limestone

Limestone can be found in abundant quantity in Mfamosing. The limestone is mined for use in United Cement Company owned by Holcim, Lafrage and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

The limestone at Mfamosing is considered one of the purest in Nigeria with 97% of limestone. It has a layer thickness of 50cm and it is also the largest deposit in Nigeria.

Limestone can also be found in Calabar West and the flank of Calabar.

Economic Values of Limestone

  • Limestone is generally used for making cement.
  • It is used in the manufacture of glass.
  • Limestone is poured in lakes and soil to neutralize its acidity.

Read Also: Notable Craft Work Done At Cane Village In Mende, Maryland Lagos State

 

2. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – Gravel

Calabar is blessed with an abundant supply of gravel.

Gravels are fragments of unconsolidated rock which vary in size from granule to large gravels known as boulders.

There are two types of gravel based on the udden-wentworth scale; the granular gravel and the pebble gravel. The granular gravel varies in size from 2 to 4mm while the pebble gravel varies in size from 4 to 64 mm.

Gravel is formed by the weathering of rocks due to the action of agents such as sea waves, animals and man activities.

 

Economic Values of Gravel

  • Gravel is widely used in the construction industry for making stone dust and stone base used in concrete.
  • Large gravel or boulders are used as a foundation material to increase bearing capacity of weak soil.
  • Gravel is used in road construction in many parts of Nigeria and the world.

 

 

3. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – Brine

Brine can be found in Ikom-Calabar. It is a very important industrial component.

Brine is made up of two chemical compounds; sodium and Chorine.

It is obtained by solar evaporation. Brine obtained from the basins of evaporating lakes can be manufactured by first boiling it and filtering.

 

Economic Values of Brine

  • Brine is used to manufacture chlorine in large quantities through the process of electrolysis.
  • Brine is widely used in food preservation to preserve meat in corned beef and also in pickling.
  • Brine is used to transfer heat in refrigerator due to their low freezing temperatures.

Read Also: Notable Violence in Yakurr and Abi Communities of Cross River State

 

4. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – Clay

Clay is found in commercial quantities in Calabar, Nigeria.

Clay has a plastic property, it tend to stretch when wet and when it is heated it become very hard. It is gotten from unconsolidated rock matter.

The components of clay are silica, alumina and water. It also contains oxides of iron, alkali and alkaline earth. There is also the presence of crystalline substances such as quartz, feldspar, and mica.

 

Economic Values of Clay

  • Clay is widely used in the ceramic industry for the manufacture of earthen wares
  • Clay is used for making Kaolin clay which is used for making skin care products.
  • Clay is used for making building materials
  • Clay can be used to remove heavy metals from waste water and the air due to its strong absorbent property.
  • Clay has wide application in cement production, paper making and chemical filtering.

 

 

5. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – Forest

Calabar Nigeria is blessed with very big forest that can be harnessed for producing various forest product.

Some of the economic trees present in the forest of Calabar are Pogea Mimosop, Ebony, Mahogany and Cedar.

The rich forest in Calabar is aided by the high rainfall experienced in the region. The forest is home to several animal and plant species interacting to form a close system.

 

Economic Values of Forest

  • Forest trees such as mahogany are used in industries to produce timber products
  • Forest can serve as a means of generating revenues for the government when it is turned to a recreational facility.
  • Forest can be used to protect the watershed, reduce soil erosion and maintain water cycle.
  • Forest helps to protect people from the adverse effect of global warming by using up the carbon dioxide in the air, hence helping to reduce it.

Read Also: Top 10 Cultivated Crops in Okitipupa, Ondo State Nigeria And Their Economic Values

 

6. Notable Natural Resources In Calabar – River

Calabar is blessed with the Calabar River which is a source of various aquatic resources.

The river in caliber has a natural deep harbor as such it is been currently developed into a port city with all its attendants effects.

The geological features of the river include Cretaceous sediments of the Calabar flank, Pre-Cambrian Oban Massif and the Niger Delta Sedimentary basin.

The Calabar River flows from the north of Calabar to the south of Cross Rivers state. It

 

Economic Values of the River

  • The Calabar River serves as a source of fish, which can be used to generate revenue for small holder fishermen as well as the government.
  • Calabar River is used as a port to exports goods such as palm oil and fishes to other parts of the world.
  • The river can be used to supply water to the township of Calabar, hence helping to solve of the most important need of man.
  • The ports in Calabar can help to build local economies around the city with different economic activities going leading to direct and indirect employment of the people of Calabar.

Read Also: History of the Yakurr Community and Her People in Nigeria

 

Summary

Nigeria is richly bless with abundant natural resources that are scattered within the length and depth of the country. In this post, we focused only on the abundant natural resources in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria. The purpose of this article to educate and inform potential investors about our rich natural resources. The city is widely open for business. So what are you waiting for? Let us know if you have any interest in investing on any of the listed natural resources in this post.

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