Stabilization of Omu-Aran Lateritic Clay Soil with Cement-Milled Eggshell Waste

Adewara Sunday O.; Gana A.J; Abolusoro S.A. & Obayanju T.O

Department of Economics, Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Department of Civil Engineering Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Department of Agriculture, Landmark University Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Email: phildebo123@gmail.com; oladewara02@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Clayey soils with high content of clay particles cannot be used for either construction due to their weakness. In order to overcome the identified weakness several techniques have been tried to make the soil suitable for construction. The study used combination of cement and egg shell powder to analyze the properties of clayey soil. Components of Eggshell are magnesium, carbonate, protein and calcium. This research work was carries out in investigate the properties of an Omu- Aran lateritic clay soil stabilized with eggshell powder. A varying percentage of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8% of eggshell powder, cement and eggshell powder (ratio 1:1) and cement were added to the lateritic clay soil in order to stabilize it. Various laboratory tests which include the basic geotechnical test (such as particle size distribution, density specific gravity, natural moisture content and Atterberg limit) and strength test (i.e. CBR and U C S) were carried out on the sample. The results of the laboratory test showed that there was a significant improvement in the properties of the stabilized specimen. The results also showed that for this study, when cement is mixed with eggshell it was the most effective out of the three varying binder forms that were used.

Keywords: Stabilization, Omu-Aran Lateritic clay soil, Cement-Milled Eggshell Waste.

Effects of Time Overrun on Construction Projects within Jos Metropolis, Nigeria

Joshua S. Mangvwat, ¹ Ola S. Olumide, ² Ajalah M. Yahaya³, Paul W. Zakka³ and Fredrick O. Job³

¹ Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

²Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

³Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine effects of time overrun on construction projects, contractors, clients and consultants within the study area. Using survey method, 11 contractors that completed 26 public construction projects within Jos metropolis were purposively selected to reflect direct active exposure to construction contracts with government ministries. Thirty construction professionals on these projects were randomly selected and interviewed. The most common effects of time overrun are delayed completion, supplementary agreement, strained relations among stakeholders and budget shortfalls characterized construction projects. Regression analysis shows that a unit change in time overrun led to increase in cost by a factor of 0.04.  To ameliorate the effects of time overrun, the research recommends that clients engage competent hands to manage projects sites while ensuring they fulfill their own obligation of prompt payment to contractors thereby improving time performance.

Key words: Time, Overrun, Effects, Cost, Construction Projects

An Overview of Entrepreneurial Skills and the Challenges of Professionals in the Construction Industries

Dauda Ali¹ & Muhammad Balteh²

¹Department of Architectural Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi

²Department of Building Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi

Email: dauda2292@gmail.com; nbalteh@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the importance of integrating the knowledge of professionalism and entrepreneurial skills towards achieving a sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Economic empowerment of citizens is the primary goal of any nation. It is a key way to ensure that individuals are empowered so as to lower the level of unemployment. When graduates set up small businesses in application of their prime knowledge and the knowledge of entrepreneurship, it ensures prosperity and competiveness. This will re-engineer the economy of a Nation in the presence of available resources and business opportunities.  The society is increasingly imposing a transitional change in the nature of economic activities in almost every sector. In the construction sector such a transition is desirable due to its large use of energy, materials, and job opportunities. Sustaining these activities of the industry will benefits the regions and countries they operate in. The Nigeria construction industry is no exception and is under great pressure to move towards global sustainability, and entrepreneurs are believed to be able to play a large role in this transition by introducing new products, services delivery and new business practices. It is observed that main challenges facing professionals are technological knowledge and development, entrepreneurial skills, quantity and quality of demand.

Keywords: construction industry, entrepreneurial skills, opportunities, professionals, sustainability

Risks Identification and Estimation in Public Private Partnership (PPP) Housing Projects in Nigeria

¹Yakubu N. Sanda          ²Natalia A. Anigbogu    ²Yohana D. Izam    ³Joshua S. Mangvwat

¹Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria)

²Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria

³Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria

Email: sanda_yakubu@yahoo.com; natashaanigbogu@yahoo.com; ydmizam@gmail.com; mangvwat@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The first step in developing a sound risk management plan is to identify risks and determine their potential impact on project objectives. However, one of the most difficult activities in project management is determining what those risks are, and how they should be prioritised. This study examined risk identification and estimation in PPP housing projects in Abuja, Nigeria. Data was obtained through questionnaire survey and the information was analysed using mean rating and charts. The study suggests that both private and public parties should be responsible for identifying risks; personal and corporate experience, brainstorming and experts’ interviews were the techniques frequently used in risk identification; risk analysis is mainly done by in house staff who lack the basic knowledge of risk management; and the techniques frequently used in risk analysis were return on investment, probability analysis and internal rate of return. The study recommended inclusion of risk management in the curriculum of institutions responsible for training project managers and encouraging construction firms to employ the services of experts risk analysts in risk identification and estimation in their respective organisations so as to enhance the process towards effective risk management in construction projects.

Keywords: Risk, identification and estimation, PPP, housing, Nigeria

Suitability of Gum Arabic as a Plasticizer in Self-Compacting Concrete: Fresh Concrete Properties

¹P.W. Zakka, ²P.D Bang, ³H. S. Yohanna, ¹O.F. Job and ¹ N.A. Anigbogu 

¹Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos

²National Film Co-orperation of Nigeria (NFC), Jos

              ³ Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Bells University Otta

ABSTRACT

In the production of self-compacting concrete, superplaticizers and viscosity modifying agents play an important role in the performance of the concrete. However, these superplarticizer as well as viscosity modifying agents are expensive and their environmental friendliness cannot be guaranteed as most manufactures keep their composition secret. Gum arabic is an abundant and available material found in about 12 states in Nigeria, and is non-reactive or harmful to the environment. The study therefore investigated empirically its suitability as a plasticizer in self-compacting concrete. The research identified the most suitable mix proportion for the self-compacting concrete using gum arabic as a plasticizer. The study made use of a fine/coarse aggregate content of 55:45% content which represents a 1:2 ½: 2 Mix. The water/cement of 0.40 and 0.45 were used as well as a superplasticizer content of 0.9 and 1.5% the weight of cement were used. It was observed that the concrete made with a water cement ratio of 0.45 and a gum arabic content of 0.9% the weight of cement had a slump flow of 560mm, a V-funnel of 9 secs, an L-box value of 0.65 and 0% segregation. The concrete made with a water/cement ratio of 0.40 and a gum Arabic content of 1.5% had a slump flow of 590mm, a V-funnel time of 7 secs, an L-box value of 0.76 and 0% segregation. The concrete made with a water/cement ratio 0.45 and a gum arabic content of 0.9% the weight of cement had a slump flow of 660mm, a V-funnel time of 5.5 secs, L-box value of 0.80 and 0% segregation. The concrete made with a water/cement ratio of 0.45 and a gum arabic content of 1.5% the weight of cement had a slump flour of 680mm, a V-funnel time of 5 sec, L-box value of 0.80 and 0% segregation. The concrete made with 0.45 w/c and a gum arabic content of 1.5% the weight of cement meets all the criteria for self-compacting concrete while the other three mixes met 75% of the requirements. Gum arabic has a low viscosity and thus alters the viscosity of water and improves the workability and flow of self-compacting concrete. The samples of the fresh self-compacting concrete belong to the slump flow class SF1 with a slump flow range of 520-700mm. The viscosity test showed that the concrete belongs to the VF1 class, since their time of flow through the V-funnel was less than 10s. The concrete made with a water cement ratio of 0.45 had more passing ability than the one made with a water/cement ratio of 0.40. There was no form of segregation observed in any of the concrete mixes. The concrete made with a water/cement ratio of 0.40 had a lower slump flow and flowability than the one made with a water/cement ratio of 0.45. The SCC made with Gum Arabic as a plasticizer meets the minimum standard required for SCC after its properties were evaluated.

Keywords: Suitability, Gum Arabic, Plasticizer, Self-Compacting Concrete, Fresh, Properties.

Determinants of Rural-Out Migration in the River Benue Basin

Ayila S. Ngutsav¹;Patience Adzande²; Sylvester Iorliam²; Jonathan Ogwuche³; Timothy T. Gyuse² & Fanan Ujoh⁴

¹Department of Economics, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

²Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

³Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

⁴Urban Base Consulting, Abuja.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the determinants of rural out migration in Benue Basin. The study used survey research design. A sample size of 851 respondents was used for the analysis comprising of migrants in the Benue Basin across the five states viz: Adamawa, Benue, Nassarawa, Kogi and Taraba states. The study used percentages, graphs and binary logistic regression for the analysis.  It was found that rural out migration in the Benue Basin is determined by both push and pull factors and household characteristics of people.  It was also found that sex, age, household size, education, conflict, death of family member, lack of credit services, lack of basic social amenities at the sending communities and lack of job (search for job) were strong and significant determinants of rural out migration in Benue basin at 5% level of significance.  The study therefore recommended that government should develop the rural areas in terms of formulating policies that would advance the education and health care facilities in rural areas and ensure provision of other basic facilities like electricity and portable water in the rural areas of the Benue basin while there should also be improvement in the establishment of information centers for providing reliable information and opportunities at the sending and host communities.

Keywords: Determinants, Internal Migration, Migration and Rural out Migration