Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km². Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 kilometres is navigable during the summer months. As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name …Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km². Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 kilometres is navigable during the summer months. As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name Benue comes from Binuwe, meaning 'Mother of Waters’ in the Batta language.