Assessment of groundwater potential in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

This study addresses critical groundwater scarcity in Jos North, Nigeria (291 km², pop. 429,300), driven by rapid urbanization, population growth, and variable hydrogeology. Situated in basement complex terrain with limited primary porosity, the area faces acute water stress despite interventions like boreholes. Leveraging established methodologies, the research integrates Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to delineate groundwater potential zones. Literature underscores the efficacy of lineament density (proxy for fracture-controlled porosity) and multi-criteria analysis (e.g., rainfall, geology, land use) in similar terrains. Core objectives included generating thematic maps of controlling factors and synthesizing a groundwater potential map for sustainable resource planning. Seven thematic layers were developed: geology (18.7% weight), lineament density (18.2%), rainfall (21.4%), drainage density (11.6%), slope (2.2%), elevation (4.4%), and land use/land cover (1.7%). data from landsat 8, SRTM DEM, rainfall stations, and geological surveys were processed using ArcGIS 10.4.1, ERDAS IMAGINE, and PCI Geomatics. AHP pairwise comparisons assigned class weights (e.g., lineament density >1.5945/km² = "Very High" potential; slope <3.224° = optimal recharge). Integration via Weighted Overlay revealed four zones: Very High (12.8%, Northern sectors), High (35.1%), Slightly High (30.0%), and Low (22.1%, Eastern areas). Rainfall (32.2% priority) and lineaments (27.5%) were dominant factors. Urban expansion (0.53 km²/year) reduced recharge areas (vegetation fell to 33%, settlements rose to 28%), intensifying water stress. The study confirms RS-GIS-AHP as a robust framework for groundwater zonation in complex terrains, with 67.9% of Jos North having moderate-to-high potential. Key recommendations include: (1) Prioritizing exploration in Northern "Very High" zones (high lineament density, gentle slopes); (2) Implementing policies for equitable water access and recharge conservation; (3) Institutionalizing geospatial techniques in state water planning; and (4) Maintaining a dynamic groundwater database. These measures are vital for balancing resource use amid ongoing urban pressures.