MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ON PROJECT DELIVERING

IMPACT OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT ON PROJECT DELIVERING IN NIGERIA

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY  

The Nigerian building and construction industry continues to occupy an important position in the nation’s economy even though it contributes less than the manufacturing or other service industries, (Aibinu and Jagboro, 2002). The contribution of the building and construction industry to national economic growth necessitates improved efficiency in the industry by means of cost effectiveness and timeliness, and would certainly contribute to cost savings for the country as a whole. It is also common knowledge that the implementation of the construction project in the industry is usually accompanied with poor quality delivery and delivery time delay and cost increase as well as owner dissatisfaction (Hafez, 2001). Thus, the efficient use and management of material have an importance influence on a company's profit and can delay project construction (Abdul­ Rahman and Alidrisyi, 1993). The researchers will examine the impact of material management on project delivery in Nigeria.

Material management is a planned procedure that include, the purchasing, delivery, handling and minimization of waste with the aim of ensuring that requirement are met (Illingworth and Thain, 1998). According to Culvert (1998), a detailed material schedule and co-ordination of the requisition and order of material are important in assuring material availability. Efficient material planning is a key to high productivity on site. Material planning embraces quantifying, ordering and scheduling-. Productivity will suffer if the material planning process is not executed properly (Kaming, Olomolaiye, Holt and Harris, 1997).

Kwik (1994) stated that another issue (which is sometime beyond management control) is material shortages, for example yearly cement shortages have long been a topic of debate within the construction industry. Bell and Stukhart (1987) investigated a total concept for a Material Management System (MMS), which combined and integrated the take-off, vendor evaluation, purchasing expediting, and warehousing and distribution functions of material. The system resulted in improved labour productivity, reduced material surplus, reduced material management, manpower and cost saving. A1-Jibouri (2002) described a computer simulation model, which helps to solve the problem of order and deliveries of materials in real life by keeping a predetermined list of order and delivery time of all the materials on site. The delivery of each kind of material then takes place automatically at the specified time.

Ineffective materials management for projects can result in significant cost blow-outs and delays in project completion. Such cost inefficiencies will negatively impact global competitiveness, and owner operators and engineering, procurement, and construction companies are trying to streamline work processes for their projects. Inaccurate materials information, such as incorrect bills of materials, inaccurate cycle counts, shipping errors, receiving errors and so on, will also affect the overall project life cycle and increase project costs. Having to deal with subcontractors outside of the materials management process impacts the overall project supply chain as there is an increased risk of data inconsistencies.

Material management is the system for planning and controlling to ensure that the right quality and quantity of materials and equipment are specified in a timely manner. Materials should be obtained at a reasonable cost, and be available for use when needed. The cost of materials represents a large proportion of the cost. A good management system for materials management will lead to benefits for construction. Cash flow has become crucial for the survival of any business, if materials are purchased early, capital may be tied up and interest charges incurred on the excess inventory of material. Material may deteriorate during storage or be stolen; also delays and extra expense may be incurred if materials required for particular activities are not available.

Despite the importance of the materials, very little research has been directed towards understanding the management of materials from order to production; most research is focused upon the management of the design and procurement process and on labour site productivity. Materials management, which includes procurement, shop fabrication, logistics, supply chain management, production on site, and field servicing, requires special attention to achieve cost reduction. The supply chain is a convenient term used to describe a complex web of activities. The use of new equipment and innovative methods of materials handling has influenced changes in construction technologies in recent years.

Modern methods of material management have been embraced by the manufacturers across a wide range of industry sectors outside of construction.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Ogunlana and Proukumtong (1996) studied construction delays in a fast growing economy: comparing Thailand with Nigeria and some of the construction delays were attributed to material management: the study blames material shortage on site on unreliable supply from material suppliers occasioned by the general shortage in the industry, although there were specific instances in which poor communication between sites and head office purchasing, planning and co-ordination could be cited. However, much research has not be done on material management and project delivery in Nigeria considering the economic situation of Nigeria and the market full of substandard products. This study will therefore examine the impact of material management of project delivery in Nigeria in terms of quality and time.1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The following are the objectives of this study:

To examine the impact of material management on project delivery time in Nigeria. To examine the impact of material management on project quality upon delivery in Nigeria. To determine the advantages and disadvantages of material management in project construction.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the impact of material management on project delivery time in Nigeria? What is the impact of material management on project quality upon delivery in Nigeria? What are the advantages and disadvantages of material management in project construction in Nigeria?

1.5   HYPOTHESIS HO: Material management does not affect project delivery in Nigeria HA: Material management does affect project delivery in Nigeria

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study will be of importance to building professionals and the general public because it would not only clarify but also create awareness of the extent to which inadequacies in material management can adversely affect project delivery. The study will also help contractors, clients, consultants and all parties involved in construction projects about ways of improving their current method of material management. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.1.7   SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY The scope of this study on impact of material management on project delivery in Nigeria will cover all the project construction in Nigeria looking at their level of adoption of material management approach considering their successes with respect to project delivery quality and time.LIMITATION OF STUDYFinancial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.REFERENCES Abdul-Rahman,. H. and Alidrisyi, M. N. (1994) “A Perspective of Material Management Practices in a Fast Developing Economy; the case of Malaysia”. Construction Management and Economics, 12, 412-422. Aibinu A.A and Jagboro G.O (2002): “The Effects of Construction Delays on Projects Delivery in Nigeria Construction Industry”. International Journal of Project Management, 20, 593-599. Al-Jibouri, S. (2002): “Effects of Resource Management Techniques on Projects Schedules”. International Journal of Project Management,   20, 627-632 Kwik.K.G. (1994): “Cement and Its Problem in Indonesia”. Kompas October. 10 Illingworth, J. and Thain, K. (1998): “Material Management is it Worth It?” Technical Information Service, The Chartered Institute of Building ASCOT. 93, 1-5 Kaming, P.F, Olomolaiye, P. O., Holt, G.O. and Harris F.C. (1997): “Factors Influencing Construction Time and Cost Overruns on High-Rise Project in Indonesia”. Construction Management and Economics, 15, 83-94 Hafez, N (2001): “Residential Projects Obstacles and problems in Kuwait MS Project”, Department of Civil Engineering, Kuwait University. Culvert, O. (i998): “Correlates of time Overrun in Commercial Construction”. ASC Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference. Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, April 8-10.  

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER

THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER BY STUDYING CLIMATE PARAMETERS OF THE SOIL AND ATMOSPHERE

INTRODUCTION  

Water is indispensable for life, but its availability at a sustainable quality and quantity is threatened by many factors, of which climate plays a leading role (IPCC, 1995). Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in Africa and has a rapidly expanding role in irrigation to combat growing food insecurity. This module deals with both the impact of climate change on groundwater resources, It is important to recall the global extent of climate change, and to consider the impacts on the scale of the global hydrologic cycle.

Of Africa’s population of 1 billion, roughly 60% live in rural areas. Around 80% of them rely on groundwater-based community or household supplies for domestic and other water needs (WHO/UNICEF, 2008).

Currently there are more than 300 million people in Africa without access to safe drinking water, many of whom are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable in the world (MacDonald, A.; Bonsor, H.C.; Dochartaigh, B.E.O.; Taylor, R.,, 2012). Climate variability and change influences groundwater systems both directly through replenishment by recharge and indirectly through changes in groundwater use. These impacts can be modified by human activity such as land-use change (Taylor, Nature Climate change, 2013).

Climate change is “an altered state of the climate that can be identified by change in the mean and/or variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer”. It may be due to “natural internal processes or external forcing, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use” (IPCC, 2007).

Climate change affects water resources around the world in generally unknown ways. Potential impacts of climate change on surface water particularly projected regional climate patterns and trends (i.e., climate variability and change) have been studied in some detail. Yet, little is known about how subsurface waters will respond to climate change coupled with human activities

We refer to all subsurface water as ‘‘groundwater’’, including soil water and unconfined and confined aquifer waters. Distinctions can be made between these components of groundwater, noting interactions between them and surface water.

The challenges of understanding climate-change impact on groundwater are unprecedented because climate change may affect hydrogeological processes and groundwater resources directly and indirectly (Allen, D. M., Mackie, D. C., Wei, M., 2004). In ways that have not been explored sufficiently

Observational data and climate predictions provide abundant evidence that freshwater resources (both surface and groundwater resources) are vulnerable and have the potential to be strongly affected by climate change, with wide-ranging consequences for society and ecosystems (Calow, R.; MacDonald, A, 2009).

Today, climate change may account for approximately 20% of projected increases in water scarcity globally (Bouraoui, F., Vachaud, G., Li, L. Z. X., Le Treut, H,, Chen, T., 1999).

Thus, there is a need to evaluate and understand climatic variability over the long term to better plan and manage groundwater resources well into the future, while taking into consideration the increasing stresses on those resources from population growth and industrial, agricultural, and ecological needs (Warner, S.D., 2007).

In this project we appraise the state of the science of global change related to all components of groundwater. Scientific issues and methods are placed in the context of global programs aimed at assessment of groundwater resources and adaptation to climate change. The current emphasis is on regional case studies with the potential for global analogues to inform decisions where detailed studies are not presently feasible. In this synthesis of results to date, we provide the type of soft information needed to generalize scientific knowledge and the controlling factors specific to each case study.

1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT

In recent decades, a wide array of scientific research has been carried out to better understand how water resources might respond to global change. However, research has been focused dominantly on surface-water systems, due to their visibility, accessibility and more obvious recognition of surface waters being affected by global change. Only recently, water resources managers and politicians are recognizing the important role played by groundwater resources in meet the demands for drinking water, agricultural and industrial activities, and sustaining ecosystems, as well as in the adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change and coupled human activities.

These changes in global climate are expected to affect the hydrological cycle, altering surface-water levels and groundwater recharge to aquifers with various other associated impacts on natural ecosystems and human activities. Although the most noticeable impacts of climate change could be changes in surface water levels and quality there are potential effects on the quantity and quality of groundwater

This research I believe will ultimately save a lot of time especially when people do not have to spend money in carrying out agricultural practice or study purpose

1.3 AIM

The aim of the work is to determine the impact of climate change on groundwater by studying Climate parameters of the soil and atmosphere.

1.4 OBJECTIVES

a)   To generate an hourly record of soil moisture, humidity, dew point and temperature

b)     To get an insight into the possible differences in the groundwater level of the areas studied.

c)   To determine impacts of climate change on ground water level for the study area, and to assess the sensitivity of the results to different global climate models;

d)   Analyze weather          parameter data and build future predicted climate change datasets with temperature, humidity, soil moisture and dew point

e)   The time intervals between observations of these parameters (sometimes referred to as data interval) are normally constant. These analyses would enable us to know how these parameters fluctuated with the respect to time and how the fast Fourier transform corrects the irregularities from the frequency trends.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF WORK

This project has the advantage that it is very useful in determining the variations in climate parameters, the suitability of such place for agricultural and study purpose and in determining groundwater level change in three different regions.

1.6 GEOLOGY OF STUDY AREA

The choice of study area for this work was picked at random. For the rural region, a town called Olomoro, Delta state, in Isoko South Local Government Area while for the urban location, a region called Afiesere, Delta state, in Ughelli North was picked. As for Urban-rural location, Ugbomro town, Delta state was picked.

1.7 ARRANGEMENT OF WRITE-UP

In chapter one, the introduction to the project is presented, the aim, objectives and methodology were also presented. Chapter two covers the literature review.

Chapter three presents the methodology and the process of data acquisition. Chapter four covers the result from the acquired data and the Fortran analyzed graphs of the three regions, while chapter five presents the conclusion and recommendation.

EXAMINATION OF THE TREND OF RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE

EXAMINATION OF THE TREND OF RAINFALL AND TEMPERATURE IN WARRI, DELTA STATE.  

INTRODUCTON

The evidence of Rainfall and Temperature trend is recognized by today’s world as one of the important environmental problems that affect humanity.It refers to a serious and continuous change in weather pattern, largely attributed to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor by humans, mainly produced from thetransport, agriculture, manufacturing and energy sectors of the economy.

Recent changes in climate have led to warmer temperatures, heavy rainfall, drought, and floods etc. (AkinsanolaandOgunjobi, 2014).Therefore, the knowledge of climate variability over the periodof instrumental records and beyond on differenttemporal and spatial scale is important tounderstand the nature of different climate systems andtheir impact on the environment and society (Oguntundeet al. 2012).

Climate variability is the variations of the normalstate and other statistics of the climate on all temporal and spatial scales beyond that of individual weatherevents. Variability may result from natural internal processes within the climate system (internal variability)or from anthropogenic external forces (external variability) (IPCC 2001, 2005). The global climate has changed rapidly with theglobal mean temperature increasing by 0.7oC within thelast century (IPCC 2007). However, the rates of changeare significantly different among regions (IPCC 2007).This is primarily due to the varied types of land surfaces with different surface albedo, evapotranspiration andcarbon cycle affecting the climate in different ways.

1.1 BACKGROUND TO STUDY

The Niger Delta is a very sensitive area housing several ecosystems or local biomes. This has made it particularly vulnerable to little changes in environmental conditions, weather variability inclusive. Apart from the generalized effects of climate variability, there are certain impacts that are either unique to or more pronounced in the region. Some of these are discussed below.

1.1.1 Coastal Erosion and Flooding

The Niger Delta region is a coastal environment in which Warri is a major city with high rate of petroleum exploration activities. Increased flooding and aggravated erosional activities have been reported in the coastal regions and these have been linked with global warming by the IPCC. According to the IPCC (1990), working with records over the last 100 years, have shown that a strong correlation exist between greenhouse gases emission and climate change and between global temperature and sea level rise. Global temperature is expected to rise by between 0.2oC to 0.5oC per decade. The rise in temperature is expected to cause thermal expansion of sea and melting of polar ice. These will cause the sea level to rise for about 3-10 cm per decade during the next century. In some places, especially in Forcados, some oil wells have been lost to the ocean due to erosion. Apart from coastal erosion, flash flood in general has impacted negatively the livelihood of many communities within the Warri environ as a result of excessive rainfall. Flood and erosion remove top soil, destroy roads, affect fresh water resources and threaten lives and properties. Many people have been rendered homeless by floods and several roads have been made impassable.

1.1.2 Change in Rainfall Pattern

Meteorological data have shown that rainfall pattern in Nigeria has changed in the past decades. Oladipo (1995) reported that the decline in rainfall in Nigeria started at the beginning of the 1960s when a decade of relatively wet years ended. According to him, the persistence of below-mean rainfall in the last two decades in Nigeria is an indication of an abrupt change in climate. The Niger Delta lie predominantly in the tropics having two seasons – the wet and dry seasons. The wet season occur from May to September, while the dry season begins in October and ends in April.Food security has been defined as the ability of people to grow and obtain food. The agricultural sector in Nigeria is highly sensitive to rainfall pattern. It has been predicted that climate variability orchange will pose serious threat to food security. Climate change creates uncertainty in the rainfall pattern (timing and amount) and affects agricultural activities.

Agriculture in the Niger Delta is highly dependent on rain and irrigation is seldom practiced. The changes in the rainfall pattern have greatly affected the agriculture in the region. Farmers in the region begin cultivation at the end of the dry season, when the rain begins to fall. They plant their crops after the first or second rain in the month of March, and sometime in April. After the first rain, the rain falls periodically till the months of June/July (the peak of the rainy season), when rain fall more or less continually. The periodic rainfall pattern before the peak in June enables farmers to cultivate various crops.  Because of the change in rainfall pattern, farmers who plant after the first or second rain in run into huge loss when the rains are delayed beyond the usual due to climatic changes. The crops are scotched causing huge economic loss. Before this time farmers can predict the rain and they know precisely when to plant their crops. The crops after they are planted are watered periodically by rain before the peak of the rainfall in June. The amount of rainfall within the period before the peak is necessary for the optimum performance of many crops most especially the maize which is widely consumed in every part of Nigeria. (Etiosa and Mathew 2007.)

1.1.3 Vegetation Loss

One important feature observed in the study region is the gradual disappearance of primary forests (Etiosa and Agho 2007). This may be partly due to climate change and partly due to human activities. Uncontrolled logging, agricultural activities, acid rain, oil exploration and exploitation, urbanization and mining activities contribute to lose of vegetation. The vegetation of some part of the Niger Delta is dominated by grasses, sedges and shrubs with few scattered trees and they were mainly palm trees. In other parts, trees grow close to one another to form thick canopy over undergrowths.The Niger Delta region of Nigeria which contains one of the highest concentrations of biodiversity on the planet could experience a loss of about 40% of its inhabitable terrain in the next thirty years. As majority of the people living in the Niger Delta are farmers, the environmental and social consequences of climate change is putting livelihoods at serious risks.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The impacts of climate change together with rising world population enact a serious threat to all vital sectors of the world economy. Recent concern about rising global temperature was justified by its negative impact in all sectors of the economy most especially water supply, ecosystems, coastal habitats, industries, health and agriculture sectors. Findings from several studies (Anuforom, 2010; BNRCC, 2011; Farautaet al., 2011; Odjugo, 2010; UNDP 2010) predicted a temperature rise of 1.5 0 to 2.5 0 C for Nigeria in the 21stcentury. The threat has serious negative consequences for all sectors of the economy.

The major climatic challenge prone to the Warri environment is the Flash Flooding which occur more often after an excessive rainfall in which increasing flood risk is now being recognized as the most important sectoral threat from climate change in most parts of the Delta region which has prompted public debate on the apparent increased frequency of extreme, and in particular, on perceived increase in rainfall intensities (Oriola, 1994).

This observed challenge is creatingincreased uncertainty about future temperature andprecipitation regimes which makes investments inagriculture and other weather-dependent livelihoods inherent more risky (FAO, 2008) in study location.

Based on this background, this study attempts to ascertain the degree of variability of weather pattern in Warri, Delta State, in a bid to understanding, managing and possibly predicting the aforementioned related challenges thereby providing an empirical basis for the formulation of effective adaptation and mitigation policies.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Temperature and rainfall trend detection is an important exercise that can provide an indication of the magnitude of climate or weather variability providing a clear picture of the impact in the trends of the study area and a prerequisite for developing a framework for mitigation and adaptation policies. The knowledge of temperature and rainfall trends in the study area has tremendous potential benefits some of which can be highlighted as follows:

It will bring to limelight the potential effect of climate variabilityin Warri city It will enlightenrelevant authorities and residents on applicable adaptation measures It will provide empiricalbasis for the formulation of effective mitigation policies  The project work will serve as an indispensable and valuable data for students, academics and future researches who might be interested in validating their findings in similar settings

1.4AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The Aim of the study is to examine the trend of rainfall and temperature in Warri, Delta State.

The objectives of the research are:

To ascertain the temperature and rainfall trend in Warri, Delta State To discern with certainty the significant changes in temperature and rainfall trend in Warri, Delta State To uncover the implications of observed trend and variations in temperature and rainfall trend in Warri, Delta State

1.5 STUDY AREA 1.5.1 Location and Position

The study area, Warri, has its geographical coordinates as 5°31′N5°45′E/5.517°N 5.750°E/5.517; 5.750 ( Ekeh and Palmer 2005).Warri is a city in Delta State, Nigeria. It is an oil hub in South-South Nigeria and houses an annex of the Delta State Government House .Warri city is one of the major hubs of petroleum activities and businesses in the southern Nigeria. Delta state, southern Nigeriais bounded by Edo state to the north, Anambra state to the east, Rivers state to the southeast, Bayelsa state to the south, the Bight of Benin of the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and Ondo state to the northwest. On the east and south the state is bounded by the lower course and delta of the Niger River.

Delta State currently has twenty-five local government areas. They are: Aniocha North, Aniocha South, Bomadi, Burutu, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, lkaNorthEast, lka South, Isoko North, Isoko South, Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West Okpe, Oshimili North Oshimili South, Patani, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Ukwani, Uvwie, Warri North, Warri South and Warri SouthWest.

1.5.2 Population

It is a commercial capital city of Delta State, with a population of over 311,970 people according to the national population census figures for 2006. The city is one of cosmopolitan cities in southern Nigeria comprising originally of Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw people.

1.5.3 Climate

The climatic condition of Warri region experiences moderate rainfall and moderate humidity for most part of the year. The climate is equatorial and is marked by two distinct seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from about November to April and is significantly marked by the cool "harmattan" dusty haze from the north-east winds. The rainy season spans May to October with a brief dry spell in August, but it frequently rains even in the dry season. The area is characterized by tropical equatorial climate with mean annual temperature of 32.8 °C and annual rainfall amount of 2673.8 mm. There are high temperatures of 20 °C and 29.6 °C. The natural vegetation is of rainforest with swamp forest in some areas. The forest is rich in timber trees, palm trees, as well as fruit trees.

1.5.4 Geology

Warri in Delta State is a part of the Niger Delta Structural Basin in which three major sedimentary cycles have occurred since the early Cretaceous. The subsurface stratigraphic units associated with the cycles are, the Benin, the Agbada and the Akata Formations (Kogbe, 1976). The surface rock throughout the state consists of the OgwashiUku formation. The Benin formation is about 1800m and consists of loose and unconsolidated sands.There is little hydrocarbon associated with it. The underlying Agbada Formation which consists of sandstone and shales is, however, rich in hydrocarbons. It is up to 3000m and is underlain by the Akata Formation. The OgwashiAsaba Formation that underlies the northeast consists of an alternation of lignite seams and clay.

1.5.5 Relief

Warri is a region built up by the sedimentation of the Niger Delta and consists of the delta in various stages of development. Four major physiographic units are identifiable with in it. First, the freshwater swamp which is the most active area. It is located close to the River Niger, where annual flooding and deposition occurs up to 45 km from the river's course.

Second, the man grove swamp area described as an intermediate delta stage. It is much lower and a great proportion of it is brackish, having been invaded by the sea since large amounts of freshwater have ceased flowing into it. Third, the upland and swamp, which is also called the coastal plain.

It lies between the flood plain and Benin lowlands. The swamps are more restricted to broad drainage channels created when this area was an active delta. Fourth and finally, the upland Niger valley, which is a narrow strip above the delta and relatively flood free.

1.5.6 Ecological Problems

The environmental setting of Warri, Delta State has very serious ecological problems such as erosion and flooding. Coastal and creek erosion affect the coastal areas, resulting in loss of farm and residential land, and in some cases whole village such as Ogulaha and Ugborodo (Ibe,1988).

Flood is a widespread phenomenon in the state. In the coastal area, the numerous rivers and creeks flood their banks creating social and economic problems. Flash floods and flood pondages are the major features of the drylands, especially in the urban centre of Warri, Sapele and Ughelli.

In recent times, oil exploitation and gas flaring have further aggravated the ecological problems, causing very serious environmental pollution. The consequences include the destruction of aquatic life and vegetation and reduction in soil productivity.

1.5.7 Socio-Economic Activities

Warri is the economic heartbeat of Delta State, being the divisional headquarter for ShellPetroleum Development Co-operations (SPDC), also a swamp location for exploration andproduction of oil for SPDC. Other oil companies as well as oil servicing companies are alsosituated in the town.Major industries in the area are oil mining, oil servicing, petro- chemicals and sculptural and bronze making establishments.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN NIGERIA: ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS 

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Nigeria, located in West Africa, has a total land area of 983,213 square kilometres. Presently, its estimated population is over 150 million people (World Bank Population figures) yielding an average density of more than120persons per square kilometres. Industrial activities, in its modern forms, are relatively recent in the history of Nigeria’s economic development. During the pre-colonial period, Nigeria featured considerable craft industry as modern factory activity was then not known. With the advent of the Second World War and its aftermath, the economy of Nigeria changed tremendously and there were demands from Europe for industrial raw materials. With time, due to the low technological base, industrial development took on the assembly-type pattern of import substitution (Wikipedia, 2015). However, political self determination since 1960 did provide the opportunity for improving on its import substitution strategy as well as developing its potentials for real industrial take off through capital goods industry. Prior to the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri, Rivers State in 1956,agriculture (before 1970) was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. The oil boom witnessed in the 1970s led to a tremendous increase in industrial activities. With financial resources available from oil and no development policy, unguided urbanization and industrialization took place. As desirable and necessary as this development was, it became an albatross not of itself but because of the lack of appropriate environmental protection policies to guide it. The result was the indiscriminate siting of industries, deforestation and desertification, disregarding the need for environmental concern. The process technology of some of these industries often resulted in unacceptable levels of toxic and dangerous industrial wastes and effluent emissions. These culminated in the degradation of the environment and devastating ecological and human disasters.

As a result of these, the need to combine industrial development and environmental protection arose. Acts of legislation for environmental protection, known as environmental laws, were then enacted. However, the researcher is seeking to provide an highlights on the various issues of environmental pollution and the challenges encountered in establishing an effective environmental enforcement programme and the solutions proffered by the government in tackling these problems (Wikipedia, 2015).

Oil is the primary base of Nigeria’s economy and is also the cause of major environmental and social problems in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Over the years, oil exploration, production, and refinement in Nigeria has resulted in various environmental and ecological problems that range from oil spills, gas flares, habitat destruction, air and water pollution, and land degradation. Also, a major cause of oil pollution in that same region is also to a great extent, from the activities of illegal oil bunkering and illegal refineries operated indigenes and some highly placed individuals in government. The chemical properties of spilled oil often affect the productiveness of soil and pollute water bodies, thereby causing irreparable damage to agricultural lands as well as aquatic bodies.

Gas flaring is a significant environmental and economic problem in and Nigeria emits approximately 70 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually (US EIA1999). This adversely affects the socio-economic actives of local communities, which is primarily based on fishing and farming (Egunjobi1993). It is estimated that in one region alone in the Niger Delta, flaring is statistically likely to cause 49 premature deaths, 5000 respiratory illnesses among children and some 120,000 asthma attacks and 8 additional causes of cancer each year (Environmental Rights Action and the Climate Justice Programme).

Another major environmental issue ravaging Nigeria is water pollution. According to Anukam (1997), the main source of water pollution in Nigeria has to do with forestry activities. Deforestation and improper soil tillage practices increase the concentration of soil particles that make their way into water bodies and in turn increases their sediment loads.. The discharge of industrial waste materials into bodies of water is another major source of pollution in Nigeria. Discharges from industries such as petroleum, mining, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, and textiles among others have increased the contents of sulfates and nitrates in water bodies and has altered properties such as color and odor (Adelegan 2004). These metals and other chemical substance increase the toxicity of water bodies as well as soils. A large percentage of Nigerians derive most of their domestic and drinking water from ponds, stream, and shallow wells. Hence, water pollution is a major health concern that places the health of about 40 million people at risk of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and typhoid (Anukam 1997, Adelegan 2004, Orubu 2006). Domestic and industrial waste has also constituted a major source of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The improper disposal and ineffective management of municipal solid waste and industrial waste creates major environmental and aesthetic problems in most of Nigeria’s urban areas. Due to overpopulation and the creation of slums, most municipal areas currently generate more waste than they can manage (Ogbonna and Ekweozor, 2002). This has led to the accumulation of waste heaps in “several areas, blocking motorways and making passage along alleys and pavements difficult” (Ajayi and Ikporokpo 2005). The most common method of waste disposal in Nigeria is waste transfer from one region to another and incineration. The first involves the transfer of waste from a region that is considered to have a higher aesthetic value to one that has a lower one. The waste incineration method of waste disposal often results in air pollution due to the release of gases such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, halogenated carbons, and other particulate matter.

There is need for government to enact and implement necessary environmental laws to control the issues of environmental pollution and this can be done by putting necessary environmental pollution enforcement structures in place to curb the spate of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Irrespective of the numerous environmental laws enacted to protect the environment, environmental degradation has continued unabated. Oil spillage and gas flaring activities are still commonplace in Nigeria, especially in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Gas flaring has also continued unabated irrespective of the Nigerian government’s directive to end flaring by 2010 (Kalu, 2009). The Idoho oil spill incidence of 1997 spilled 40,000 barrels of crude oil into the environment. It travelled all the way from Akwa Ibom state to Lagos state dispersing oil through the coastal states, up to the Lagos coast. According to the Department of Petroleum Resources, between 1997 and 2001, Nigeria recorded a total number of 2,097 oil spill incidents amounting to 1,947,600 barrels of crude oil.

Thousands of barrels of oil have been split into the environment through our oil pipelines and tanks in the country. Enforcement of environmental regulations is still poor as industries continue to discharge untreated waste water into the environment. Heaps of refuse are always a constant sight to behold in Nigerian streets and markets.

Most recently, in December 2011, the SPDC’s Bonga offshore platform spilled about 40, 000 barrels of crude oil into Nigerian waters. On January 16 2012, a gas explosion occurred at the Finuwa oil field owned by Chevron Nigeria Limited. The Nigerian government was shockingly silent about these two incidents. This study however wants to identify the problems of environmental pollution and proffer solution to the issue.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The following are the objectives of this study:

To identify the issues of environmental pollution in Nigeria. To analyze the impact of environmental pollution in Nigeria. To determine the solutions to the challenges of environmental pollution in Nigeria.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What are the issues of environmental pollution in Nigeria? What is the impact of environmental pollution in Nigeria? What are the solutions to the challenges of environmental pollution in Nigeria?

1.5   HYPOTHESIS HO: Environmental pollution is not a major challenge in Nigeria HA: Environmental pollution is a major challenge in Nigeria

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The following are the significance of this study:

The outcome of this research will educate the general public on the issues and the adverse effect of environmental pollution in Nigeria. The findings from this study is going to necessitate measures that will lead to demand for improved implementation of environmental pollution control laws in Nigeria This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied, it will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.7   SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY This study on environmental pollution in Nigeria will cover all cases of environmental pollution ranging from air and water pollution due to oil exploration and refining, effluent waste from industries, dump sites all over Nigeria market and streets and even noise pollution.

LIMITATION OF STUDYFinancial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

REFERENCES Amukam, O., (1997). Pollution control regulation the Nigerian oil industry (Lagos: N.I.A.L.S.1997). Ogbonna, E.A., and Ekweozor, P., (2000): The Adverse Effects of Crude Oil Spills in the Niger Delta. Urhobo Historical Society. Ajayi, A. & Ikporokpor, D., 2002. International Environmental law (Ardley son: Transnational Publishcrs). Orubu, E.A. (2006) The Community of Oil Exporting Countries New York: Cornell University Press). Kalu V. E., LL.M, BL, (2009): Toxic Wastes And the Nigerian Environment; Dept. Of Private &Property Law, University of Benin: An Appraisal. Adelegan, M.M., 2004: Nigerian Petroleum Law and Practice (Ibadan. Nigeria: Fountain Books). Pearson, S.R., Petroleum in Nigerian Economy (California: Stanford University Press,1970).

ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA

ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA AND CHALLENGE OF CRUDE OIL THEFT

What is Environmental Integrity?  

In an attempt to understand the meaning of the phrase “environmental integrity”, this paper, shall attempt to separate the phrase to enable it arrive at a definition. While the phrase “Environmental” concerns with the environment; connected with the natural conditions in which people, animals and plant live”. The term integrity connotes uprightness, honesty, purity entireness, wholeness; the unimpaired state of anything.  Given the above meanings to the phrase, it follows that environmental integrity is the retainment of the pure state, the unimpaired state of the natural conditions in which people, animals and plant live in all human endeavours. Environmental integrity has also been defined as the sustenance of important biophysical processes which support plant and animal life and which must be allowed to continue without significant change. The objective is to assure the continued health of essential life support systems of nature, including air, water, and soil by protecting the resistance, diversity and purity of natural communities (ecosystems) within the environment. Stricto senso, environmental integrity paints a picture of an environment void of all forms of pollution from all polluting sources, which are basically the making of human activities in its quest for survival ranging from pollution from industries, homes, etc. This means that human survival and development cannot exist without pollution and because this state is unattainable, i.e. (humans cannot just still and await death) the concept of environmental integrity will now mean an effort by humans to maintain a sustainability of environmental resources of the environment in all aspects of its activities through its conducts, applicability of its working tools and through regulations applied in such a way as to improve all the components of the environment and not to degrade same.ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY IN NIGERIA Flowing from the above definition of what environmental integrity connotes, the question that arises is what is the state of environment in Nigeria?  How Environmental integrity maintained in Nigeria?  In the quest for economic development, Nigeria veered in industrialization at independence. The first decade (1960 – 1970) of Nigeria’s independence witnessed government plan to promote growth of industries in order to contribute directly to economic growth and national development. In the 1970’s two of the most applauded goals of the national development plans were:

Increase in self reliance in the supply of industrial products and factor inputs. Develop and support small and medium scale industries and their contribution to manufacturing.

In 1990s, the government targeted, among others:

THE IMPACT OF ORPHANAGE HOME ON CHILD PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

THE IMPACT OF ORPHANAGE HOME ON CHILD PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA 

Background of the Study  

The orphanage home is one of the numerous social institution that have emerged over the year to carter for some of the social needs  of orphanage associated with such problems.

Motherless  babies  have nowadays  become common because of the moral decadence of the society young people who cannot cater  for themselves find themselves  put in the   family  way they end  up find abandoning those innocent helpless babies.  The increasing hardship because of the present economic recession  has  increased the incidence of burden  family relationship and  the consequent loss  of firm control of  family members. This has tended as evidence  by the  increasing number of abandoned babies such babies have become the central focus of the orphanage home the impact of orphanage home on child personality development that is the behaviour pattern of social behariour on child personality  development.                 

The research try to compare children between the age of one (1) month to three (3) years that grows up in orphanage home  to those that grow-up with their parent children  from the orphanage behave  in a unique pattern thereby displaying some certain social behaviour attitude that could be associated with the up bringing in the orphanage home. I want to find out the positive and negative aspect of orphanage home on children personality development generally.  Any baby that  lost his or her  parent  especially the mother by what every means  become mentally ill once it is discovered the illness is taken from the mother by the  orphanage   children abandon  in hospital  or on the street are taken to the orphanage home. Social welfare services and training of professional social workers of all categories social workers can  succeed out making their contribution towards realizing their objective of government  in improving people welfare only after they have keenly understood the problem.

The causes and the effect of those people on he community the desertation is an attempt toward such changes taking place and their documentation the study will focus on the impact of the orphanage home on  child personality  development in the  later parts of his life.    

The Kaduna orphanage home is the birth child of Jammiyyar Matan Arewa.

The Jamiyar Matan Arewa itself is a social organization of northern women  established on the 27th May 1963 it  was aimed at unifying the women folk and  providing hem with a  forum of welfare activities.

The organization was to  be non-political  and it membership was to be opened   to all  tribes religions or social status at the very first meeting of the Jammiyar Matan Arewa which took place in the house of General Hassan Usman Katsina a steering committee was set up to carry on the task of mobilizing women for the association and also to plan and organize fund raising  activities to meet up the financial obligation of  the association.

1.2   Statement of the Problem Children brought up in the orphanage home cannot cope effectively with the outside world this display in their dispositions because most of them tend to be introverts and always want to keep to themselves in few causes they turn out to be backward in speed and verbal  intelligence. According to Segmund Fraud (1945) children who grown  up in the orphanage home may likely to affected in their  culture tradition, and religion are  their interests  belief ambitions ideas and soon thus affecting the personality  development as their behaviors is not only more indiscriminate but more immature than those children who are with their natural parent. Hence the increase in various research as to find out the effectiveness and influence of these home (orphanage home) on the child personality development.

1.3   Purpose of the Study 1.     Find out the positive and negative IMPACT OF ORPHANAGE HOME ON THE CHILD’S PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT.        

2.     Determine the effect of orphanage home on child’s personality development. 3.     Find out the morale and attitude of children raised in orphanage home. 1.4   Research Questions. 1.     What are the positive and negative impact of orphanage home on the child’s personality development. 2.     What are the likely effect of orphanage home on the child personality. 3.     What are the morale and attitude acquired by children raised in the orphanage home.

1.5   Scope of the Study This study is limited to the orphanage home Kaduna.  Therefore the study is restricted to the impact of orphanage home on the child’s personality development.