Neco 2024 Geography Question 4

Nigeria has three climatic zones with the following annual rainfall ranges: Sahel (300-600 mm), Sudanian (600-1200 mm) and Rainforest (1200-2000 mm). An agricultural project requires a minimum rainfall of 800 mm and a population density not exceeding 150 persons km⁻² to ensure sufficient land availability. The data for three states are:\n\n- State A: rainfall 900 mm, population 5 000 000, area 30 000 km²;\n- State B: rainfall 850 mm, population 2 500 000, area 20 000 km²;\n- State C: rainfall 1 300 mm, population 8 000 000, area 50 000 km².\n\n(a) Which state(s) satisfy both criteria if the project is implemented in a single state? (b) If the project can be carried out in a combination of two states, provided that each selected state meets the rainfall requirement and the weighted‑average population density of the combined area does not exceed 150 persons km⁻², identify the feasible combination that yields the maximum total suitable area.