N.B. Between 10°30′E and 13°E the French mapping shows a boundary where no 1501 sheets exist at present; in this area the boundary accords well with the 1907-08 demarcation.
4.
Most of the mapping published by the Federal Survey Department in Nigeria either shows no international boundary, or shows one which is generally qualified by the following boundary
note:
"The positions of the International .
Boundaries shown on this map are not
accurate. They have been plotted from the Nigeria Gazette Notices where available, but in some cases are only enlarged from 1:500,000 series of map”.
This note clearly calls for a closer look at the Nigeria-Niger boundary as shown on Federal mapping. In general it is poorly depicted, the boundary symbol being thick and the cartography relatively crude compared with the 1.G.N. Carte de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. But with the exception of the change noted in para. IV. 2(x), for which there is a good legal basis, and the possible exception of the change noted in paras. IV. 2(vi) and IV. 3(vi), Nigerian maps do show the 1907-08 demarcation line, even where the 1.G.N. changes have been in Nigeria's favour. This is consistent with the statement by the Chief Surveyor of the Nigerian Federal Survey Department (10) that there have been no agreed changes to the 1907-08 demarcation line.
5.
At the western end of the boundary, from the River Niger eastwards to longitude 5°30'E, the boundary is depicted on better quality contoured topographic mapping in the standard 1:50,000 and 1:100,000 Federal series, but again this mapping carries the above mentioned boundary note. A detailed study of the boundary on the 1:50,000 maps was carried out, using mainly the 1910 Agreement (Bibliography, item 5) and the British boundary maps (described in para. III. 9), with some reference also being made to the collection of material produced by the 1907-08 Boundary Commission (described in para. III. 7) and to the French boundary maps (described in para. III. 11). In making such a study it must be realised that the 1907-08 Commission laid down exactly how the boundary should be re-established if the beacons disappeared - and this is effectively the situation facing the office-bound researcher. Re-establishment is to be by reference to the topographic description contained in the 'Position' column of the Table of Beacons given in the 1910 Agreement; only if this is not possible should the quoted bearings and distances be used. This, basically, was the approach made to the problem. The boundary alignment derived from this study was plotted on photocopies of the 1:50,000 series, which are held in MRLG under reference E39:3(2). For about 70% of its length it lies within 1⁄2 km. of the printed boundary; and about 90% of its length is within 1 km. Whilst clearly intended, therefore, to represent the 1907-08 demarcation line, the printed boundary does not appear to fit exactly the definition laid down in the 1910 Agreement. The 1:100,000 map series was derived from the 1:50,000 series and, with some minor exceptions, shows the same alignment as the 1:50,000 maps; the remarks in the previous sentence therefore apply to the 1:100,000 series as well.
6. The study described in the previous paragraph showed that both the US DMA Topographic Center's series 1501 sheets and I.G.N's Carte de l'Afrique de l'Ouest at 1:200,000 scale, whilst not, in the area studied (west of 5°30'E), having obvious errors in boundary depiction, nevertheless could be improved in this respect. Such improvement could only sensibly be done, however, if the improved topography depicted on the Nigerian 1:50,000 maps were also incorporated in the resulting revision.
7.
Niger has published no suitable mapping showing the boundary.
8.
The US DMA Topographic Center and D. Survey series G 461 reflects the Nigerian 1:500,000 map, which shows the 1907-08 demarcation line.
.9.
Page 45Page 46
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.