Category Archives: International Journal of Environmental Studies and Safety Research 2017

CONTENTS

Biblical Solutions for the Control of Contagious Diseases for a better Healthy Environment in Nigeria

Ishaya Mallo, Makpu

Department of Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts

Nasarawa State University, Keffi

Email: makpuishayamakpu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Contagious diseases are contacted by contact with the affected victim and these include cholera, malaria, typhoid, measles, smallpox, chickenpox, leprosy, and HIV/AIDS. These diseases are prevalent in Nigeria.  Thousand Nigerians die yearly of these diseases whose widespread nature  are generally attributed to  poor personal  and community  hygiene, poor education, economic, poverty, and  poor facilities and infrastructures. There is the need to control the spread of contagious diseases.  A close look at the Bible indicate  that there is much the  citizens can do to control the spread of contagious diseases at personal and community   levels while waiting for supplementary efforts from the various sector of government. The study will utilize a contextual approach, explored selected divine commandments in the Bible that have bearing on the control of contagious diseases and their application for control of  contagious diseases in Nigeria today. The study established the similarities between the life-settings of the Israelites and the contemporary Nigerian people. Therefore, there is relevance of the various divine injunctions explored to the contemporary situation in respect to the control of contagious diseases. Our findings indicate that God desires to be the central figure among his people. He desires his people to distinguish themselves through lifestyles that are in harmony with his commandments. God has identified that he is the healer of his people; he guarantees the personal communal and natural health and well-being of the Israelites, if his commandments are followed. Therefore, Nigerians could benefit by following these commandments.

Keywords:   Solution Contagious, Environment, Divine, Commandment, Comparison

Towards Economic Sustainability of Nigerian Cities: The Informal Sector Question

¹Ola, A. B. & ²Adewale, Y. Y.

¹’ ²Department of Urban and Regional Planning,

Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria

                             E-mail: olabayo22@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper examined the contributions of informal sector to socio-economic development of Nigerian urban centres with a view to craving the indulgence of policy makers for appropriate policy framework to facilitate sustainable development of the sector and Nigerian cities. Among the significance of the sector identified in the paper are: employment and income generation; income redistribution; prompt financing of informal enterprises; as well as contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The paper also identifies some of the challenges of informal sector development, among which are: lack of appropriate financing mechanisms; poor infrastructure development; harassment by overzealous government agents; cumbersome registration procedures; and stiff competition from formal (especially foreign) firms. The paper therefore suggests the formulation of a clear-cut policy to facilitate:  a less-cumbersome formalization of informal enterprises; increased access to finance; and training and re-training of the operators in the sector.

Keywords: Informal sector; Development; Employment; Income; Gross National Product

Poverty Mapping: A case study of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State

Ortserga Saakuma

Department of Urban and Regional planning

 Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State

Email: jsortserga3@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

All efforts by previous administrations aim at reducing poverty in Nigeria and Benue State in particular have always failed to bring out the desired result. This has been traditionally blamed on lack of a well constructed poverty profile that provides information with complete geographic data coverage. This paper investigated poverty in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State with the aim of identifying the basic needs of the people in the Area. Seventeen settlement sub-units of varying sizes were chosen for the study; the study used income, basic amenities and road infrastructure development to measure and analyzes poverty in the LGA. The descriptive method of analysis was used with Geographical Information System (GIS) to conduct the study. The result of the analysis showed a high level of poverty in the LGA with Majority of the people living on less than the equivalent of one US dollar per day. The result also showed that majority of the people in the study area lack basic amenities of life like water, electricity, health centers and good roads. Finally the basic needs of each settlement sub-unit were ranked according to importance. The study concluded that, for poverty to be reduced, attention must be focus on analyzing, measuring and reducing poverty at settlement sub-units.  

Keywords: Poverty Mapping, Settlement Sub-Unit, Poverty Reduction, income, basic amenities, road infrastructure and Basic Needs.

Environmental Factors and Construction Managers’ Performance

Oyelami, Kehinde Olufemi; Oyedele, Adebola Jumoke & Adegoke Johnson Olufemi

Department of Quantity Surveying

Osun State College of Technology PMB 1011

Esa Oke, Osun State, Nigeria

Email: distinct.ok@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Some environmental factors like economic, technological, cultural, legal, political, social, demographic and physical/ecological/climatic/geological environments are considered as some of the major challenges that impede the performance construction managers in most construction projects worldwide.  As a result of this challenge, this study is set out to identify and assess the impact of these environmental factors on the performance of construction managers. These environmental factors that affect the performance of construction managers were discussed and include economic, technological, cultural, legal, political, social, demographic and physical/ecological/climatic/geological environments. Questionnaires were distributed to gather information from those who have acted or are presently acting as Construction managers. The results of the study revealed that all the respondents had encountered one or more of these environmental factors in their experience as construction managers with physical factor affecting respondents most with a mean score of 3.31 followed by economic factor with a mean score of 3.24. Cultural factor has the least effect with a mean score of 1.24 followed by demographic factors with a mean score of 1.48.  It was discovered from the study that these factors can lead to project abandonment, loss of value for money, loss of credibility of construction managers, project time and cost overrun. The researcher then concluded by recommending that the awareness of these environmental factors should be created  through organized seminars/workshops and that construction managers should be equipped with effective tools of management (planning, coordinating, organizing, and so on)  to be able to reduce the impacts of theses environmental factors to the barest minimum.

Keywords: Environmental Factors, Construction Managers, Performance, Construction Management.

Impact of Oil Spill on Environment, Human Health and Economy in Nigeria

Sabina Khanam & Bhola Khan

Department of Biological Sciences, Yobe State University, Nigeria

Department of Economics, Yobe State University, Nigeria

Email: sabinakhanam@ymail.com, bholakhan.apj@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Oil spills have been reported over several decades in many parts of the world but Nigeria has been greatly affected by oil spillage in recent years. Harmful effects of oil spills on humans and environment have been extensively studied. The presence of oil and their constituents in the environment are capable of exerting some acute and long-term adverse health effects. Some carcinogens like pyrene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were found in the surface water and soil and therefore its affect the environment via affecting soil, water and air which directly or indirectly harms humans, plants and marine ecosystem. The effects of oil spillage not only limited to environment and human health, it has also affect the economy which are included livelihoods, farmland and wild life of the country.

Keywords: oil spill, health, environment, ecosystem

Design Influence on Squatter Trading: Case Study of Jimeta Ultra Modern Market Yola, Adamawa State Nigeria

A.U. Attah, B. Bala & S. Othman

Department of Architecture

Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria

Email: ahmedattah001@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Concerted efforts have been done by several Architects to provide sustainable design initiatives to solve the menace of Squatter settlements in Urban Centres through various means that includes relocation, upgrading, or transformation. But little has been done to integrate squatter traders in urban markets, most of the research works done on squatter settlement were on housing giving a little consideration to urban markets which are also flooded with squatter traders. This research is geared toward reviewing the spatial organisation of urban markets with the sole aim of finding how the design of market influences squatter trading. The research is conducted through direct observation, structured questioners, interviews and extensive use of related literatures in order to find out the opinion of traders, (legal and Squatters), customers, and local authorities concerned. Result provided an analysis of the market layout, a partial typology of the existing shops and the trader’s perception on the design influence on Squatting and a possible holistic approach toward squatter traders’ integration in market design.

Key words: Urban Market, Design, Squatters, Traders, Integration.

Analysis of the Overview of the Active Fire Protection Measures in Nigerian Markets

Odaudu Ugbede Sunday

Department of Architecture

Kano University of Science and Technology, Kano, Nigeria

Email: arcodauduugbede@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of fire is referred to as fire protection. The way to stop the spread of fire by means of the application of fire protection devices is known as active fire protection. Ways of protecting people from dangers of fire outbreaks, merit serious attention. The devices that can be used to protect a building as much as possible in the case of fire before the arrival of the fire brigade are called fire protection devices. The knowledge on how to use the installed facilities is important in tackling fire emergencies; otherwise, the reasons for their installation will be defeated and lack of such knowledge could hinder escape from fire hazards. Active fire protection measures in Nigerian markets were recapped with the aim of being informed of the need for adequate knowledge of fire protection devices that can reduce the spread of fires. Evaluating the functions and importance of fire protection devices as well as making the awareness of fire protection devices in markets in Nigeria are the objectives. The method adopted in this study is the review of relevant literature on fire outbreaks in markets. Relevant literatures were also reviewed on the active fire protection devices, and fire protection measures. The findings showed that, there is no study on the awareness of how to make use of fire protection devices in markets in Nigeria; subsequently, there is need for evaluation of active fire protection measures in Nigerian markets. From this study, it is expected that, people will be aware of the uses of fire protection devices in markets in Nigeria and this awareness shall reduce the spread of fire whenever it breaks out. It is also expected that, this study shall lay a foundation for further studying of active fire protection devices in markets in Nigeria. Thus, it is recommended that, adequate fire protection devices are installed in markets in Nigeria as well as creating adequate awareness on how to use them.Keywords: Devices, Emergencies, Fire Protection, Mitigating, Nigerian Markets

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project: An Alternative to Road Traffic Congestion along Mararaba-Nyanya-Abuja Highway, Nigeria

Ogah, A. T, Adana, M.Y,and Magaji. J. I.

Department of Geography

Nasarawa State University, PMB 1022, Keffi

Email:tankogah@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Bus rapid transit (BRT, BRTS, bus way, transit way) is a bus-base mass transit system that meets certain conditions. A true BRT system generally has specialized design, services and infrastructure to improve system quality and remove the typical causes of delay. Sometimes described as a “surface subway”^. BRT aims to combine the capacity and speed of a metro with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system. The methodology adopted was a simple stratified random sampling technique used and 300 road commuters were interviewed including motor drivers of all kind, public and private workers and students commuting the road. The research employed cluster sampling method which deliberately includes people of similar characteristics in the location. The results of the analysis revealed that time wastage, increased accidents, lost of working hours, pollution, fatigue, lateness, delays, fuel consumption and blocked traffic due to passage of emergency vehicles were the major problems of road traffic congestion. Furthermore, the results suggest that BRT project can reduce the menace. In conclusion the research has shown that relationships exist between the research variables. From the explanations and figures in the analysis, it is evident that road traffic congestion has an impact on social/economic aspects. The study also recommends that the Federal government and the Nasarawa State government should implement this project and make a priority so as to reduce the suffering of the commuters.

Key words: BRT, lateness, delays, commuters, metro, subway.

Characterization by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the Chemistry of Atmospheric Precipitation in Oil and Non-Oil Producing Communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

¹Ubuoh E. A. &  ²Ekpo , F. E.

¹Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology,

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

²Department of Biological Sciences, Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo

Email: ubuohemmanuel@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the character of atmospheric precipitation from oil and non-oil producing communities of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, due to incidence of rainwater pollution and its effects on man and his environment.  This was accomplished through the use of principal component analysis (PCA) for data interpretation and grouping of atmospheric precipitation for rainwater quality sustainability for human consumption .Twenty seven (27) samples of atmospheric rainwater from oil producing and non- oil producing communities were tested. From the use of PCA, four underlying components were extracted from study locations: Component I with high positive loadings includes: (temperature, TDS, Turbidity, EC, NO₃,  Pb),Component  II (pH, Cl, Zn), Component IV ( CaCO₃, NH₄Fe) all emanated from gas flared region leading to acid rain formation  within oil producing communities. Results from non-oil producing communities  shown high positives loadings in  Component 1 (temperature, Cl, SO₄, CaCO₃,NH₃, Fe, Cd and Mn).Component II : (Colour, pH, Zn), component  III  (NO₃), and Component IV (turbidity, Pb) suspected to be caused by  vehicular flows, agriculture and other activities outside gas flaring. Ultimately, the results of PCA reflect a good look on the water quality monitoring and interpretation of the atmospheric rainwater in oil producing and non-oil producing communities of Akwa Ibom State. This then calls for enforcement of the enabling environmental rules and regulations to mitigate environmental pollution caused by incessant gas flaring in the region.

Keywords: Principal Component Analysis, Atmosphere, Chemistry, Precipitation, Gas flaring