NIGERIA 2012 FLOOD DISASTERS – THE ROLE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT 

Mohammad, Gbate

Science Laboratory Technology Department

The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria.

E-mail: gbatenda@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The Nigerian nation witnessed its worst flood disaster in over four decades in 2012. Thirty three states of the federation were affected. Over 7.7 million people were victims nationwide; with 3.8 million people internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 363 reported death. Nigerian economy lost 2.29 trillion naira representing 1.4% of our GDP. Nigeria was losing half a million barrels daily oil production output during this period, this accounts for more than one fifth of the nation’s daily output. Food production was grossly affected with rice fields in the flood valleys of rivers Niger and Benue virtually wiped out. But disasters only occur to the extent that the population is unprepared to respond, unable to cope, and consequently, severely affected. This paper reviews modern technology that could help Nigeria prepare, mitigate, and recover from such disasters, these include: Geographical Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Remote sensing, Satellite navigation system, GSM/Cellular Mobile Telephone System, Internet, Television and radio broadcasting and Social media and social networking.

INFLUENCE OF SOIL PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES ON PHOSPHORUS FIXING CAPACITY OF SELECTED SOIL SERIES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA 

M. O. Azeez¹, O. O. Adesanwo¹, A. F. Adewale¹ and J. A. Adepetu²

¹Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

²Department of Soil, Crop and Environmental Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

E-mail: azeezmusy@yahoo.com, mazeez@oauife.edu.ng

ABSTRACT

Selected soil series (Jago, Mamu, Apomu, Itagunmodi, Egbeda, Ondo, Iwaji, Iwo and Gambari Series) from Southwestern Nigeria were evaluated for their Phosphorus (P) sorption characteristics as influenced by soil physical and chemical properties. The samples were equilibrated in 50 ml of 0.01M CaCl₂ containing various amounts of P as KH₂PO₄ to give 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm for seven days at room temperature. The physical and chemical properties as well as P sorption characteristics of the soil series were determined.  The adsorption isotherm of the samples showed different curves for samples of each soil series. The rates of P adsorption increased with increased concentrations of P, but at a certain level of higher concentration, the level of P became almost constant and had no more capacity to adsorb P. Phosphorus adsorption capacity decreased in the following order Itagunmodi > Gambari > Ondo > Egbeda > Iwaji > Mamu > Jago > Iwo > Apomu. Percent clay, Ca, Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC) and total exchangeable bases (TEB) were significantly positive correlated with P fixation while silt, soil pH, soil organic matters were positively insignificant correlated with P fixation. Percent sand, available P, extractable Fe, total exchangeable acidity (TEA) were negatively correlated with P fixation. The binding energy have negative relationship with percent sand, available P, extractable Fe and TEA while positive relationship was observed with % clay, pH, organic matter, TEB and ECEC. The result showed that Itagunmodi soil series required large amount of P fertilization for productive cultivation activities. The reduction of P sorption will require management practices like regular application of P fertilizers to improve the P solution concentrations and improvement of soil structure through the application of organic manure.

A REVIEW OF THE NIGERIAN LAND USE ACT OF 1978

¹Adamu, S.J. and ²Kawuwa, A.S

¹Department of Geography, Gombe State University, Tudun Wada Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.

²Architecture Programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

E-mail: sanidaddy@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Housing provision as a requirement comes after food in order of priority before clothing. Nigeria is a signatory to United Nation’s declaration for “Housing for All by the Year 2000”, and effective Housing in the 21^st century in Nigeria was not pursued with tenacity of purpose to realistic ends as in other developed countries due to enormous administrative and bureaucratic problems such as lack of access to land for development. This paper reviewed the 1978 Land Use Act which provided the basis for Land administration in Nigeria. It discovered the powers given to the Governors and other approving bodies’ serves as a major obstacle to land access for developmental purpose. It went further to recommend the provision of adequate laws to make sure that revocation and compensation are done in compliance with the regulation as well as law that will allow for alienation and surrender of Right of Occupancy without the consent of the Governor. It concluded that Government should administer land for the benefit of its citizens and not political reasons which will help in realizing the dream of a common man in having a house of his own in Nigeria.

THE INFLUENCE OF HOUSEHOLDS SIZE, LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND INCOME ON

WASTE GENERATION RATES IN MARARRABA AREA OF KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

¹A.T. Ogah, ²M.M. Alhassan, ³D.U. Sangari and ⁴J.I. Magaji

^1,3&4Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.

²Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Abuja, Nigeria.

E-mail: tankogah@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This study examined the influence of household’s size, level of education and income on waste generation in Mararraba area of Karu. The objectives of this study were achieved using questionnaire. One set of questionnaire was designed and administered to heads of sampled households, the socio-economic characteristics of households’ particularly household size, level of education and income were taken and used. Data derived from field survey were subjected to statistical analysis using regression analysis to determine the rates of influence on waste generation. And the results revealed that the income of household head (71%) exerts the most influence on the amount of solid waste generated, followed by level of education (25.65%), while households size exerts the least influence (2.56%). Thus, the implication is that the larger the size of income of household heads, the greater will be the amount of waste generated and the higher the level of education more waste is generated, while the influence of household size is not significant based on percentage of influence exerted. Recommendations include Recycling and re-use of households waste has become imperative because waste generation has been on the increase with increase in population and economic development and resources have been scarce making recycling not only sensible practice but essential as a method of waste reduction at the source.

MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE: A MICROECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE

Cornelius, N. Kwanga

Department of Economics

Yobe State University, Damaturu, Yobe State – Nigeria.

E-mail: kwangacn@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The devastating effects of climate change on economies cannot be over emphasized. This often translates into increased government expenditure with priority especially in the environment and health sectors whereas these resources could be used to develop other sectors of the economy. Governments, intergovernmental agencies and NGOs are leading the fight against climate change. The microeconomic units of the society comprising of individuals, household and firms especially in Africa are still to devote sufficient attention to its mitigation. The reason associated to this is tied to inadequate awareness amongst these set of people and reliance on the causality debate. Considering that it is an accumulation of human activities that are the major causes of climate change, the microeconomic units therefore play an important part in causing it and could do same in mitigating its effects if well guided. With this premise in mind, this paper seeks to boost awareness while highlighting measures that could be employed by individuals, households and firms in mitigating climate change. Using a qualitative approach, the paper establishes that there is a gap in awareness creation that needs to be closed in order to get these individual units into the mainstream of fighting climate change. To achieve the objective, the paper highlights a series of conscious choices that individual economic units can employ so as to boost climate change mitigating efforts. The paper recommends public awareness creation through proper information flow, integration of climate change as an important aspect of the curriculum of schools at all levels of education in Africa, and public discussion and finally the adoption of a climate – friendly conscious life style amongst others.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CHEMICAL WASTES

RECYCLING TECHNIQUES IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC

CONTEXT OF SUB-SAHARAN COUNTRIES

Tsunatu, D. Yavini¹*, Azuaga, I. Chia¹, and Blessed, D. Jen²

¹Chemistry Department, Taraba State University, Jalingo – Taraba State, Nigeria.

²Science Education Department, Taraba State University, Jalingo – Taraba State, Nigeria.

E-mail: tsunatu.danlami@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Sustainable socioeconomic development advocates environmental sustainability through recycling of chemical wastes. This paper captures the environmental benign processes/techniques involved in achieving these materials salvage. The basic phases in recycling are the collection, processing or manufacturing and the purchase of those products. The materials reused in recycling serve as substitutes for raw materials obtained from such increasing scarce natural resources as petroleum, natural gas, coal, mineral ores and trees. The recycling of chemical waste can serve as a channel of providing solutions to many environmental and socioeconomic problems and challenges such as increasing cost of waste disposal and depletion of natural resources. The field of chemical recycling techniques of Iron and Steel Scrap (ISS), Aluminium Cans and Glass Bottles, Polymers, Textile Wastes, Old Papers and Wood, Cement Kiln Dust (CKD), Automobile Exhaust, Animal and Fish Wastes (AFW), Domestic and Municipal Organic Waste is reviewed in this study. Highlighted also are the prospects and problems of this exercise. The study concludes that the recycling of chemical waste is of great importance especially in solving the numerous environmental problems and hence increases the nation’s economy and social well-being of mankind. It recommends more serious measures at national and international levels especially developing nations of the Sub-Sahara to encourage and sensitize the government and private sector educationally on the importance of chemical waste recycling and to enhance the regulation of its practice.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITIES IN ANTANG DISTRICT OF JEMA’A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

Yunana, Mba Abui and Banta, A.L.

Department of Environmental Management, Kaduna State University, Kafanchan Campus.

Department of Agricultural Economic and Extension, Kaduna State University, Kafanchan Campus.

E-mail: abuimbayunana@yahoo.com,

ABSTRACT

In recent years the various activities of exploration and exploitation of Nigeria resources to satisfy our demand for consumer goods have had considerable effects and the natural environment. The socioeconomic effects of illegal mining activities in Atang District of Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, was investigated with the aim to determine the socio-economic effects of illegal mining activities on the Atang District. Primary data for the study were obtained from a total sample of 97 through random sampling techniques by application of structured questionnaires and personal observations. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages and tables were used to analyze the data obtained from the questionnaire. The result indicated that the illegal mining activities in Atang District brought about some benefits like building new houses, marrying new and additional wives and improving the standing living of the communities with the money realized from illegal mining. On the negative side of the illegal mining in Atang District include the lost of good land due to erosion, land crises, loss of animal and human lives in the mining pits, lost of soil fertility, drunkenness, drug addiction and social harassment. The paper recommended reclamation of land through leveling of mine spoil heaps and filling of mine pits is necessary. The reclaimed land could be used for plantation of trees such as Eucalyptus spp. which can be grown for producing poles and firewood. Soil conservation measures can be taken to control soil erosion by the use of cover crops on the farmland.

PERCEPTION FOR HOUSING INTERIOR SPACE FINISHES

Zinas, Z.B.¹ and M.M.B Jusan²

¹Department of Architecture, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

²Department of Architecture, Universiti Teknologi, Skudai-Johor, Malaysia.

E-mail: bzinas@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Housing and housing space has been a place for personal development, recreation and self-accentuation. People that live in unhealthy indoor housing environments are most likely to contract diseases as pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and the likes. The need for having a conducive interior housing environment is of high premium for the enhancement of place attachment.  How the interior housing environment is perceived by the users of this space environment is also equally significant.  This paper investigates how prospective house owners in Yola perceive their housing interior finishing of the three dimensions of the housing interior space. The study was conducted within the theoretical and conceptual framework of means-end chain (MEC) research model. Laddering interviewing technique was employed as methodology for data collection and management. The study found several perceptual elements and orientations for floor, walls and ceiling.