Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is a 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 a 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.