This study focuses on the effects of urbanisation on the morphology and hydraulic geometry of the Ekulu River in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Measurements of channel properties were taken along a 25 km stretch at 45 sites grouped into three sections: section A, upstream of the town (15); section B, within the town (15); and section C, downstream of the town (15). Spatial interpolation techniques were used to predict channel morphometric properties within and downstream of Enugu on the basis of upstream relationships. The independent variable in the analysis was drainage area, used as a surrogate for discharge. In section A, channel parameters increased systematically downstream with basin area. Within the town, channel parameters exhibited sudden dimensional increases. Based on sectoral relationships, measured channel dimensions showed moderate increases above the expected values, with average enlargement ratio indices of 34 per cent, 91 per cent and 65 per cent in width, channel capacity and depth, respectively, between sections A and B. Between B and C the channel exhibited average reduction ratio indices of 21 per cent and 27 per cent in capacity and depth, respectively, and an average enlargement ratio index of 17 per cent in width relative to the expected value. The increase in channel dimension within the town is explained by: (1) the confluence with a third‐order tributary; (2) the poorly structured, loose, incoherent and highly erodible channel bank materials; (3) high volumes of runoff generated from the impermeable urban surfaces; (4) urban hydrological routing due to urban drainage; (5) human traffic across the river banks; and (6) the huge volume of garbage and solid wastes dumped into the channel.