Mapping of Groundwater Potential Zones in the Precambrian Basement of Kebbi State

Kebbi State in North West Nigeria is predominantly underlain by Precambrian crystalline basement rocks whose hydrogeological heterogeneity presents significant challenges for systematic groundwater development to serve the state's rural population. This study maps groundwater potential zones in the basement terrain of Kebbi State through the integration of remote sensing, aeromagnetic data analysis, and ground-based geophysical surveys. Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 imagery were processed to extract lineament maps using automatic lineament extraction algorithms, and lineament density maps were constructed to identify structurally favourable zones. Airborne magnetic data from the Geological Survey of Nigeria were processed to derive horizontal gradient and analytic signal maps delineating basement structure and intrusive bodies. Ground resistivity surveys using the Schlumberger array were conducted at fifty stations distributed across the state to characterise aquifer depth and thickness. All spatial datasets were integrated within an ArcGIS framework using weighted overlay analysis to produce a groundwater potential zonation map classified into five categories from very poor to very good. The map was validated against borehole yields from a regional database compiled from the Kebbi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. Identified very good and good groundwater potential zones in structurally complex areas of the Zuru Schist Belt are prioritised for future borehole development. Keywords: groundwater potential, basement complex, remote sensing, Kebbi State, lineament analysis.