Browsing by Author "Emmanuel, Ozim Chukwunonso"

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    ASSESSMENT OF FLOODRISK AND VULNERABILITY OF COMMUNITIES ALONG LOWER NIGER RIVER BASIN, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
    (Environmental Science Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2018-02-10) Ekpo, Salamatu Abraham; Emmanuel, Ozim Chukwunonso; Olufemi, Oladeinde Stephen
    Nigeria as a nation suffers the effect of Climate Change majorly through flood events. Anambra State is often one the most affected states due to its location along one of the country's major rivets and its major tributary (River Niger and River Anambra). In an effort to support the government's long term plan to mitigate the associated damages and casualties of flood disaster, this study assessed the floodrisk and vulnerability of communities along the Lower Niger River Basin in Anambra State, Nigeria. Digital Elevation Dataset from ASTER 1-arc second resolution, base map of Anambra State, past flood records and GPS coordinates of communities were integrated to map the flood vulnerability of one-hundred (100) communities to river Niger and river Anambra using ArcGIS 10.1. 18% of the communities were found to be highly vulnerable, 23% were vulnerable while 59% were marginally vulnerable. Communities in Ogbaru and Anambra West LGAs were found to be the mostly exposed to flood risk while those in Idemili south and Ihiala were the least. Urgent Evacuation of People during floods and permanent relocation of all the villages to higher terrain areas was recommended for the highly vulnerable zone.
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    ASSESSMENT OF RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS FROM MINING ACTIVITIES OF MBAYION LIMESTONE MINE IN GBOKO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA
    (Department of Environmental Management, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2018-02-11) Shammah, K.; Ekpo, Salamatu Abraham; Emmanuel, Ozim Chukwunonso
    7i/s study assessed the radiological hazards to members of the public and workers from naturally occurring radioactivity due to limestone mining activities in Mbayiom District. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for the activity concentrations of the three major primordial radionuclides; Uranium - 238 (mU), Thorium -232 (232Th) and Potassium -40 (*°K) using direct gamma spectrometry. Mean activity concentrations (47.1Bq/kg, and 607.6bq/kg) higher than the world averages were recorded for 23HU and 40K respectively in the study area. They were however, lower than the IAEA average values and fell within the worldwide ranges of 11 - 110 and 140 - 850 respectively- Conversely, the mean concentration (18.3 Bq/kg) of232Th was lower than world average and satisfied IAEA safety standard. In comparing the absorbed gamma dose rate and the annual effective dose (AED) owed to the three NORMs in the study area, it was found that the total dose rate (64.24nGy/h) was above the worldwide rate (60 nGy/h) though within the global range of 18 - 93 nGy/h. However, the total AED (0.022 nGy/h) due to 23HU, 232Th and40K was below the worldwide average (0.48 nGy/h). Gamma absorbed dose obtained in this study showed higher dose in line with of Kazakhstan, India, Luxembourg. Sweden. Norway, Malaysia and China as against countries like Ghana. Iran, Algeria and USA which had lower dose than the global average. The average radium equivalent activity (151.6 Bq/kg) and the average external hazard index (0.409) had values lesser than the acceptable level of370 Bq/kg and <1. Although the average internal hazard index (1.115) was higher than the permissible limit of <1, it was still within the worldwide range of 1.015 - 1.30. It was concluded that the NORMs activity concentration due to 238U and 40K at Mbayion limestone mine is relatively high. Therefore, these high activity concentrations of the nuclides will influence background radiation in the Mbayion environment by increasing the exposure of background radiation emanating from the significant levels of natural radionuclides. However, considering the average radium equivalent activity values for the analyzed samples, soil or rocks from the study area could be utilized for building purposes without causing any substantial radiological hazards. Appropriate radioactivity monitoring project should be carried out on the mining site in order to check for conceivable rise in radioactivity level due to buildup of mineral from numerous quarry sites; and workers should be provided with personal monitoring service (Thermoluminescent dosimeter equipment like safety glasses, dust masks, safety boots, and gloves.
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    Assessment of Traditional Palm Wine Tapping Practice Effect on Vegetation in Nasarawa State, Nigeria
    (Department of Environmental Management, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2019-12-12) Mba, E.H.; Ekpo, Salamatu Abraham; Emmanuel, Ozim Chukwunonso; Olufemi, Oladeinde Stephen
    Palm wine is an alcoholic drink obtained by the natural fermentation of the sap of various type of palm trees, it produced and consumed in various part of the country and beyond. This rich beverage is been used for different traditional practices not only for occasional consumption, so it is of high demand product. The tapping process starts from traditional dealers known as Palm Wine Tappers, that climbs to the top most part of the palm trees, cut it open from the side or middle, or cut down the tree for the liquid sap and this produces lactic-alcoholic-acetic fermentation that is conducted by the lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeast and acetic acid bacteria (AAB). The tapping process practiced in difference part of the country are; burning/falling, pruning and trimming. They poses a threat to palm trees that serves other environmental, economic, health and nutritional benefits to human and the ecosystem. This practice renders high number of palm trees less productive or dead in a society with no food security, shaky economy, poor environmental practico/=wvareness and tree planting habit. Due to high demand for the product, 4 out of 10 palm ♦rpps a. is 'been converted to palm wine production source, this implies that the palm tree can not palm tre^i f"1 's more °f high economic benefits and also contributes to the shortage of Photos serves as a good absorbent of carbon and gives out oxygen through enviro ^ neSIS Process. a measure that adds value to living organism and reduces warming of the the t ™S ?tud^ recommends proper public awareness especially to the people involve in -nr4 e, Pa'm Wine Tappers" and introduction of more sustainable way of tapping, monitoring and emphasis on tree planting.
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    Examining the Relationship between Commercial Charcoal Production and Socioeconomic Variables in Nasarawa State, North-Central Nigeria
    (Department of Environmental Management, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2020-04-04) Ekpo, Salamatu Abraham; Emmanuel, Ozim Chukwunonso; Ogah, Adamu Tanko
    Charcoal is no longer a source of energy to only rural households but also a demanded commodity in urban areas around the world which has resulted in the commercialization of its production, particularly rural dwellers of developing countries such as Nigeria. Given the observed growing significance of charcoal in rural and urban livelihoods in Nasarawa State, this paper examined the relationship between commercial charcoal production and socioeconomic characteristics of the people involved in the activity. The study employed descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative data drawn from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 450 r«. "-ondents randomly sampled from commercial charcoal producers drawn from 6 communities and 3 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also conducted and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23). Results showed that commercial charcoal producers in the study area were mostly between 21 and 50 years with dominance of those between 31 and 40 (30.9%) while those above 50 years were least represented (6. 9%).There was slight dominance of women (52.4%) among the producers and the they were mostly primary (44%) and secondary (35.6%) school certificate. Majority (48.2%) had household size of 4 - 6 and more than half (52 9%) were married and earned 20,000 naira and below on monthly basis (46.4%). There is strong relationship between the socioeconomic status of the respondents and commercial charcoal production in the study area. Their socioeconomic status proved to have served significant motivation to their rising involvement in the activity. Also alternative economic activities that guarani-.•:$ quick monetary rewards and is all age and gender engaging as well as requires no special skill and huge capitals for a start, should be planned for and introduced in the study area by the State Government.