Table of Contents

Change Agenda: Erosion Management and Prevention in Lokoja

Florence, F. Falana & Damilola, H. Falana                                                                              1 – 18

An Appraisal of Jury System as an Assessment Instrument for Students’

Portfolio Examination in the Department of Architecture, University of Jos

Erekpitan O. Ola-Adisa, Ebelechukwu O. Enwerekowe & Umar A. Audu                                19 – 31

Source Apportionment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soils within

the Coalite Plant in Bolsover, North Derbyshire using Isotope Composition

Wisdom Ivwurie, Emelife S.C., Snape C., & Sun C.                                                                   32 – 39

Effect of Temperature and Relative Humidity on Respiration Rate and

Nutritional Properties of Stored Onion

Fumen, G.A., Osunde, Z.D., Idah, P.A. and Adejumo, B.A.                                                        40 – 50

Effect of the Environmental Conditions of Prisons and Remand Institutions

on the Inmates: A Case Study of Agodi Prison and Juvenile Remand Home,

Alaro, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Babatunde Luqman Olakunle & Olabode B.O.                                                                        51-66

An Assessment of Water Quality Prameters of River Chanchaga, Minna

Niger State

A.M. Idi-Ogede, I.O.S., Ogah, M.A., Musa^, M. Sabo, A. Ikililu & Ndakwo, M.A.                          67-71

Assessment of Groundwater Quality in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria

Obi Lawrence E.                                                                                                                       72-77

Roles of Urban Open Spaces to Environmental Safety in Nigeria

Oladunjoye, K.G.K.                                                                                                                   78-91

ROLES OF URBAN OPEN SPACES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY IN NIGERIA

Oladunjoye, K.G.K.

Department of Architecture,

The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria

Email: koladunjoye60@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

In the quest to maximise land value in terms of cost and location, human activities at various levels has led to the abuse of the physical environment in the misuse of the urban open spaces which if provided for in order with planning regulations in Nigeria, would have increased the beauty and safety of the buildings, and consequently, the wellbeing of accommodations. But with the continuous obliteration of these natural areas by man’s activities of building development, refuse dumping, squatter settlements among others, with little or no cognisance of the need for coordinating physical development activities among neighbourhoods within major towns and cities have resulted into an unsafe, unpleasant quality of the environment. This paper asserts that it is fundamental that open spaces be provided for within the built environment in Nigeria and improved to enhance the quality of the environment as well as improve the safety of lives and properties of the inhabitants. It further asserts that creating and developing open spaces within a neighbourhood can help meet many needs such as adding to their buildings aesthetics, acting as green lungs of that community, encouraging leisure activities, community interaction and cohesion, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles, preserving open spaces from harmful repellent purposes such as flooding and erosion by putting into good use. Overall, this paper examines the roles and contributions of open spaces development and management in urban areas as a strategy for environmental improvement, conservation and its potential in sustaining a safe built environment in Nigeria.

ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN YENOGOA, BAYELSA STATE NIGERIA

                                            Obi Lawrence E.

Department of Civil Engineering,

Imo State University, Owerri

E-mail:engrlawobi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This research was focused on the investigation of groundwater quality in the metropolis of Yenogoa which is often considered as a significant part of the Niger Delta region. Water samples were collected from designated areas and these samples were subjected to laboratory tests. The tests were targeted at ascertaining the bacteriological, physical and chemical characteristics of the sample water from the boreholes. With the results obtained from the tests, it was revealed that the groundwater characteristics in the metropolis conformed to the acceptable limits of the World Health Organization and Nigerian Industrial Standards except for its iron concentrations which did not conform to the accepted standards.   

AN ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS OF RIVER CHANCHAGA, MINNA, NIGER STATE 

A.M. Idi-Ogede¹, I.O.S., Ogah¹, M.A., Musa^1, M. Sabo¹, A. Ikililu² and Ndakwo, M.A³

¹Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal University, Gashua.

²Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, FUNAAB, Abeokuta.

³Department of Agricultural Technology, College of Agriculture, Makwa.

Email: a.midiog@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of River Chanchaga in Minna, Niger State was carried out from June to December, 2015. The physico-chemical Parameters were determined biweekly from four sampling points (Kasobo, Tunga-Waya, Numukpan and Chanchaga Village) using standard methods. The parameters determined include P^H, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, temperature, BOD and ammoma. High mean range of physico-chemical parameters were observed at some points. It was concluded that Agricultural activities like fertilizer application and other activities like bathing, washing and defecation into the water might be responsible for the high physico-chemical parameters recorded at some points.

EFFECT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS OF PRISONS AND REMAND INSTITUTIONS ON THE INMATES: A CASE STUDY OF AGODI PRISON AND JUVENILE REMAND HOME, ALARO, IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA.

*BABATUNDE LUQMAN OLAKUNLE & **OLABODE B. O.

*Department of Architectural Technology, The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State

**Department of General Studies, The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State

Email: kbabatmillarch@yahoo.com;

ABSTRACT

There has been a serious concern over the increase in the population of the inmates of the various prison institutions in Nigeria, coupled with unspeakable conditions. Although, several measures have been implemented by the federal government, a conducive environment for the prison inmates is yet to be achieved. Against this background, the paper examines the conditions of prison homes in Ibadan as it affects the attitude and behaviour of inmates with a view to making recommendations that will enhance their dignity as human beings. Compared to previous researches, this paper evaluates the maintenance and management of prison homes, the effect of poor conditions in the reformative and rehabilitative programmes of our prisons. Two hundred and six (206) inmates, which equal to 30% of the population of the inmates of Agodi prison and 20 inmates, which is 50% of the total population of the inmates of juvenile Remand home, Alaro were sampled making a total of 226 inmates sampled. The study employed regression analysis to ascertain the relationship between the conditions of prison homes and the attitude of their inmates and the results revealed that the relationship between the conditions in Prison homes in Ibadan and the attitude of inmates is positive (2.574) and based on the t-value (6.935) and p-value (0.000), it can be concluded that this relationship is statistically significant. Further, the result revealed that 94.20% of the population of the inmates of Agodi Prison were awaiting trials and the percentage population of male to female inmate stood at 99.4% to 0.06%. Speedy trial and rapid justice of awaiting suspected persons by the judiciary, resuscitation of vocational programs and training for the inmates among others were recommended by the paper.

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON RESPIRATION RATE AND NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF STORED ONION 

Fumen¹, G.A., Osunde², Z.D., Idah², P.A. and Adejumo², B.A.

¹Department of Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering, Samaru College of Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria  

²Department of Agricultural and Bio Resource Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.

Email: fumenaaron@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Effect of temperature and relative humidity on respiration rate and nutritional properties of stored onion was investigated. Gas constituents and nutritional properties of onion evaluated include oxygen (O₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂); moisture content (Mc), dry-matter (Dm), carbohydrate (CHO), crude protein (Cp) and vitamin C (VC). Three cabinets (A, B and C), with three storage chambers, each, were maintained at selected temperatures (14^oC, 27^oC and 34^oC) at ±2^oC. The relative humidity within the 9 chambers were independently controlled, using saturated salt solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) and ammonium sulphate [(NH₄)₂SO₄] with respective predictable humidity levels (64%, 75% and 80%RH) at ±1. The investigated properties were evaluated for a period of 6 weeks at the intervals of 2 weeks. The results indicate that temperature and relative humidity significantly influenced the compositions of O₂ and CO₂ in the storage chambers. The highest O₂ (19.5%)and CO₂ (0.16%) compositions were observed in storage chambers maintained at low (63.7%) relative humidity and high (34^oC) temperature. The highest Percent moisture content of 88%, carbohydrate content of 7.79%, protein content of 1.83% and vitamin C content  of 17.81% were obtained in chambers at 80.3% relative humidity and 14^oC temperature, while the highest (19.75%) percent dry-matter content was recorded in a chambers maintained at 63.7% relative humidity and 34^oC temperature. The results suggest that to conserve the nutrients constituents of onion bulbs the storage conditions should be maintained at moderate (14^oC) and at high (80.3%) relative humidity conditions.

SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN SOILS WITHIN THE COALITE PLANT IN BOLSOVER, NORTH DERBYSHIRE USING ISOTOPE COMPOSITION

Wisdom Ivwurie, Emelife S.C., Snape C., & Sun C.

Department of Chemistry,

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

Email: wivwurie@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Five soil samples from varying distances from a coalite plant in Bolsover, North Derbyshire were analyzed for their isotopic compositions using gas chromatograpy – isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS). The isotopic composition (free and asphaltene – derived aromatics respectively)for the study areas are; for Bolsv.1, it ranged from -22.5 to -26.6 ‰ and -19.7 to -23.4 ‰, Bolsv 2 ranged from -20.7 to -26.6 ‰ and -19.7 to -22.6 ‰, Bolsv. 3 ranged from -21.6 to -26.6 ‰ and -19.0 to -23.3 ‰, Bolsv. 4 ranged from -23.7 to -27.3 ‰ and -23.4 to -25.1 ‰ and Bolsv.5 ranged from -23.2 to -24.6 ‰ and -23.6 to -27.3 ‰. These ranges showed that the PAHs in the soils were derived basically from coal related sources with predominant input from low and high temperature carbonization.

AN APPRAISAL OF JURY SYSTEM AS AN ASSESSMENTINSTRUMENT FOR STUDENTS’ PORTFOLIO EXAMINATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, UNIVERSITY OF JOS

Erekpitan O. Ola-Adisa, Ebelechukwu O. Enwerekowe & Umar A. Audu

Department of Architecture,

University of Jos, Jos

Email: olaefeadisa@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The jury system of architectural evaluation is well documented method of student assessment since the early 20^th century. With the advent of architectural education in Nigeria in the 1950s, the jury method was introduced by the pioneer expatriate lecturers. Although this method of evaluation is the primary assessment instrument in Nigerian Universities, it is not without its problems. This study critically examines the jury systems through a rigorous review of literature and an empirical study of 300 and 400 level students and their lecturers in the Department of Architecture, University of Jos, contributing to knowledge by filling the gap in information about the practices in Nigeria, The study also reveals students have largely negative perception to this system in the Nigerian context, It concludes with recommendations geared towards improving the jury system and making it more acceptable to Nigerian students of architecture.

CHANGE AGENDA: EROSION MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION IN LOKOJA 

Florence, F. Falana & Damilola, H. Falana

Department of Estate Management, The Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State.

Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

E-mail: florencefalana@yahoo.com, dammydayo@gmail.com

ABSTRACT The only thing that is permanent in life is change. We need positive change in every sector of life. Change is a transformation from worse off to better off. For some years past the Nigeria infrastructure and environment have witnessed decadence, decay and degradation. On the New Year 2015 message president Buhari has promised Nigerian that change is imminent. He proposed a 5-point change agenda aim at improving Nigeria of which improved infrastructure is one of them. Erosion is the highest environmental problem threatening sustainability of both plant and animal (Okin, 2002). Erosion also affects structure and infrastructure. The study focuses on Lokoja one of erosion prevalence towns in Nigeria due to its topographical and geographical location. The aim and objective of this paper is to examine how the change agenda can ameliorate the menace of erosion in Lokoja. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Based on the findings, it was established that erosion has negatively effect on land, building and infrastructure in Lokoja. Also the ecological funds for environmental development are not use to prevent environmental degradation of which erosion is one. Furthermore, non-implementation of planning policies coupled with the physical nature of Lokoja characterized by slope contributed to the erosion menace. Recommendations were made in the direction of non diversion of fund, policy enforcement and public private participation to mitigate erosion in