THE ENERGY POTENTIAL OF RICE HULL AS BIOFUEL FOR DOMESTIC USE

I. Yerima¹ and Richard T. Isa²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

 ²Mill Six, Jalingo Taraba State

E-mail: yerima.ibrahim@yahoo.com, richtea4u2000@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Due to increasing cost of Domestic Energy coupled with Desertification, increasing human population, high cost of electricity and petroleum gas, a survey of Rice hull dumping site was carried out in Maiduguri, with the aim of evaluating rice hull as a waste for domestic energy in this Ecological zone. Five parameters were examined and measured to determine their influence on the energy value of rice hull. The parameters include moisture content, density, air pocket, ash, and caloric value. All the five parameters interplay for rice hull to effectively burn as a fuel. However, low level of moisture and high number of air pocket (aeration) showed prominence, and significance in the efficiency of the material as biofuel.

Keywords:  Rice hull, Energy Biofuel, Moisture and caloric value.

DETERMINATION OF SEASONAL VARIATIONS OF AQUIFER DEPTH IN A PART OF BASEMENT COMPLEX OF ILORIN METROPOLIS

S. Olatunji^1* and L. M. Johnson²

¹ Department of Physics, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

² Department of Geology and Mineral Science, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

E-mail: sam61ng@gmail.com.,mobolajijay@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Depth to water table was monitored for six consecutive months by direct measurement in nine hand-dug wells within Ilorin metropolis, lying within the basement complex of north central Nigeria. Weekly time series of rainfall and well water level were cross-correlated to investigate seasonal variations in groundwater-level response times, based on periods of 6-month duration. The aims are to monitor the fluctuation of the aquifer recharge, determine the drying rate, detect possible seepage in the studied wells and to analyse geohydrological information. The result shows that in two of the wells some volumes of water are leaking fast at the rate of 0.333m/week and 0.295 m/week to the host rock probably through underground connected pores. This could imply that the wells are seated on fractured and or porous basement. Further with exception of well 2, all other wells show appreciable response to the rainfall. This implies that rainfall is a major recharge source to the aquifer in the study area.

Key words: Well, Aquifer, Aquiclude, Drying-rate, Recharge, Borehole.  

AN ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC FLOW AND NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS IN LAGOS MAINLAND, NIGERIA

Atubi, Augustus O.

Department of Geography and Regional Planning

Delta State University, Abraka

E-mail: atubigrp@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper aims at determining the contribution of the road network characteristics to traffic situation in Lagos Mainland. The analysis via the graph theory revealed that the road network of Lagos Mainland is not well connected and this also has some effects on the traffic situation. In determining the overall contribution of the road network characteristics, the multiple correlation statistics was used. From the analysis, it was observed that 82.81% of the traffic situation in the area can be attributed to the road network characteristics leaving 17.19% to other factors. Based on the findings recommendations were proffered.  

Keywords:  Traffic flow; network; characteristics; Lagos Mainland; analysis.

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION IN AKWA IBOM STATE

Christopher Ndehedehe and Biodun Kolawole

Surveying& Geoinformatics

Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua

SUMMARY

Land is required for various uses in both the urban and rural areas of all society. It is a major factor of production and a vital element in the socio-economic development of any country or society. Thus, as nations grew in size and rural areas become urban centres and urban centres become large metropolitan areas, there is always increased competition as well as demand for land for different purposes. This requires adequate planning and control to ensure harmonious development and functional efficiency of these uses and settlements. This paper examines the current land information management/administration in Akwa Ibom State. The existing cadastral systems and their shortcomings have been presented. Also recommendations on steps to take in order to improve upon the present system are discussed.

Key words: Land information management, Certificate of Occupancy, geographic information systems,

RISKS IN BUILD, OPERATE AND TRANSFER (BOT) PROJECTS IN NIGERIA

¹I.Y.Mohammed, ²K. Bala and ³S.U. Kunya

^1&3Building Programme, School of Environmental Technology

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nigeria

²Department of Building, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 

ABSTRACT

One of the newest financial schemes for environmental projects is the Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) concept, which is being used increasingly worldwide as a project delivery system by which governments obtain the infrastructure projects by private sector after a concession period free of charge. In the Nigerian environment up to now, promoters and investors have had many fears toward declared projects. This study aims to investigate the potential for implementing the BOT system in the Nigerian environment. This can be achieved by giving a clear view of BOT and of its problems, risk areas, and features, pertaining to the Nigerian environment, in order to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks as much as possible. The collected data was analyzed based on actual implementation in Nigeria. This involved the following:1 An overview of the critical success factors in order to achieve a BOT project; 2 an analysis of results obtained from questionnaires seeking to determine the possibility of occurrence of the different risk factors in the Nigerian environment, and their ranking; 3 a comparison between the questionnaire results and the actual risks from requests for proposal of locally advertised projects; and 4 a determination of the missed critical success factors in the Nigerian environment. The main conclusion of this study is that three critical success factors are essential for the success of BOT projects in Nigeria: 1 Picking the right project; 2 competitive financial proposal; and 3 special features of bid.

Keywords: Nigeria; Build/operate/transfer; Risk management; Project management; Bids; Financial management.

RECYCLING BIODEGRADABLE WASTE USING COMPOSTING TECHNIQUE

Buba Apagu Ankidawa and Emmanuel Nwodo

Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering

Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria

Email Address – ankidawa03@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to recycle household biodegradable waste using composting as a technique. Mixtures of organic materials which are components of biodegradable wastes were recycled by decomposing them under a controlled environmental condition. The initial moisturecontent of each of the materials make up the compost mixture was computed and classified as wet and dry materials, and the average moisture content for both wet and dry materials was computed. The dry materials were weighed as they were collected and were found to weigh 18kg with an average moisture content of 34.9% and a chosen moisture goal of 50%. Other results obtained showed that the weight and average moisture content of wet materials were 64.7kg and 54.2% respectively. The compost mixture was scaled down to half its quantity for easy turning. With an optimal environmental condition of moisture content (50%), adequate proportion of both the dry and wet material to meet the required Carbon/Nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and an appropriate volume of air in the pore spaces of the compost pile and microbial decomposition was initiated. At the end of the decomposition, a stabilized organic matter which can be used as fertilizer supplement by horticulturists, landscapers, orchardists, Farmers etc, was obtained.

Key Words:  Biodegradable waste, Composting, Organic materials, Aeration, Environment condition, Moisture content.

POTENTIALS OF DOMESTIC RAINWATER HARVESTING IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA USING SUPPLY SIDE APPROACH

¹Ubuoh A., ²Egbe C.  A, ³ Ogbuji S. and Onifade, S.

^1&3Department of Environmental Management Technology, Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri.

²Department of and Geography and Environmental Study, Federal College of Education, Owerri

E-mail: attahubuoh@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the technique of capturing and storage of rainwater for the need of man. The capturing and storage of rainwater varied from place to place and depends mainly on climatic condition. Historical data of rainfall for 20 years acquired between 1989 -2008 was used in collaboration of Supply System Approach (SSA) for calculation of potential of RWH. The results indicated that mean monthly rainfall ranged  between  18.39 –  378.63 mm  and mean annual rainfall ranged  between 145.6 – 440.7 mm, with rainfall throughout the months for 20 years events The maximum  storage capacity needed to meet demand throughout the year at household level occurs in September as  98.3m³ (983,000 litres)  with total demand line for rainwater consumption as  18,000 litres  above 20 litres recommended by the United Nations. This indicates the potential of rainwater harvesting to meet human hygienic conditions.  Despite this, the problem confronting RWH is the low pH of atmospheric rainwater originating from incessant gas flaring by Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) operating onshore and offshore oil exploitations in Quo Iboe. Hence the recommendation the environmental laws should be enforced for compliance to stop gas flaring by re-injection of gas as well as gas revolution should be given top priority for socio-economic development. Also public participation in rainwater harvesting should be encouraged. 

KEYWORDS: Rainwater Harvesting, Low pH, Ambient Rainwater, Supply Side Approach