GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis of Groundwater Potential in Cross River North, Cross River State, Nigeria

Groundwater is an important water resource for domestic, agricultural, and economic activities, particularly in areas where access to reliable public water supplies is limited. This study examined groundwater potentials in Cross River North, Nigeria, using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-criteria framework. Seven groundwater-conditioning factors; lineament density, drainage density, land use/land cover, slope, geology, rainfall, and soil, were integrated to characterize their combined influence on groundwater potential. The thematic layers were processed, reclassified into relative suitability classes, and combined through a weighted-overlay approach to produce an integrated groundwater-potential map. The results delineated four groundwater-potential classes: very low, low, moderate, and high. The very-low-potential zone covered 18,237 km² (34.12%), while the low-potential zone occupied 19,359 km² (36.22%). Moderate-potential areas accounted for 6,365 km² (11.91%), and high-potential areas covered 9,487 km² (17.75%), based on a total study-area extent of 53,448 km². Collectively, the very-low- and low-potential zones represented 70.34% of the mapped area, whereas moderate- and high potential zones accounted for 29.66%. Preliminary field observations from five borehole locations indicated comparatively poor yields at Igoli, Okpoma, and Abuochiche, while substantial yields were reported at Obudu town and Sankwala. These observations provide local context for interpreting the spatial assessment but do not constitute a formal statistical validation of the groundwater-potential map. The findings provide a regional screening framework for prioritizing groundwater exploration and support the need for detailed geophysical investigations, hydrogeological assessments, and quantitative borehole-yield testing before drilling decisions are made.