The study examined the effect of climatic variability on climatic water balance over Sudan Savannah, Nigeria. Temperature and Rainfall data were collected for the period 1943-2012 from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. The data were divided into two climatic years 1943-1977 and 1978-2012. On the whole, rainfall amount decreased from a very high mean value of 981.5 mm in Yelwa (Lat. 10.88 N; Long. 4.75 E) to a very low value of 656.1mm in Katsina (Lat. 13.02 N; Long.7.68 E). This pattern reveals gradual/potential extension of dryness from the Lake Chad area in Nigeria in northeast, towards the Sudan savannah, northwest of Nigeria. Annual temperature, PET, moisture deficit distributions revealed very strong evidence of upward trend at α<0.01 with corresponding decrease in rainfall in the second climatic period, an indication of changing climate. However, in Yelwa, Sokoto and Gusau, there was little evidences of significant downward trend in annual rainfall distribution at α =0.10, but rather a quasi-periodic pattern, even though there were signs of statistical rise in temperature. The general pattern of deviation in PET from the first climate period were 1.4, 3.7, 2.7, 1.9% for Yelwa, Sokoto, Gusau and Katsina respectively, while moisture deficits were 5.0, 4.2, 4.0 and 7.9% for Yelwa, Sokoto, Gusau and Katsina respectively. This general observation may suggest that water balance parameters during the second climatic period deviated from patterns Observed in the first climatic period (1943-1977). Repetition of drought within the present climate regime could be expected and should be planned for. For temperature, there is strong evidence of increasing trends for all the stations in the region which agrees with global trend. This has implications for socioeconomic development of the study area especially coupled with the attendant consequences of increasing population and economic activities in the region. There is thus need to plan for and design sustainable water resources management techniques in different sectors-agriculture, irrigation and dams, water supply to adapt to the quasiperiodic patterns of rainfall fluctuation.

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The effects of industrial effluent discharge on the water quality of River Rido in Kaduna South, Kaduna State, were examined. These include the Northern Noodles discharge point, the Kaduna Refinery discharge point, and points downstream of the River Rido. An interval of 100m between sampling points was established to achieve an even representation of sampling points. The physico-chemical parameters investigated include pH, free dissolved carbon dioxide, alkalinity, hardness, sodium, electrical conductivity, Turbidity, total suspended solids, total phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, and dissolved oxygen. Mean levels of turbidity Total suspended solids and total phosphate at effluent discharge points, as well as in most areas downstream of the study area, were generally above permissible limits for drinking water. Statistical differences were observed in the concentration levels of investigated parameters between the control point and effluent discharge points, as well as between the control point and areas downstream of the study area. However, concentration levels were observed to be similar between discharge points and areas downstream of the study area, an indication of contamination downstream by effluent discharge upstream. Notwithstanding, the water quality index of physico-chemical parameters at both effluent discharge points and areas downstream of River Rido shows that the quality of the river ranged from good to excellent at effluent discharge points and areas downstream of River Rido, respectively. This might be attributed to the effect of dilution from rainfall. It is therefore recommended that wastewater effluent from the refinery and northern noodles be properly treated before discharged into the study area.

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