ABSTRACT: Structures are
generally known to be a product of Engineering materials, characteristics and
behavior with regards to the anticipated loadings and other environmental
requirements. The engineering materials of structures includes steel,
reinforced concrete, Timber, plastics, glass etc. The material strength are
usually considered as the main criterial in determining specific functional
application and also the design consideration. The effects of loads and forces
on physical structures are determined by structural analysis, which is an
important procedures in structural design and construction processes.
Structures are loads bearing substances and arrangements of interactive and
inter-related elements for that purpose should therefore ensure stability. This
study examined structural mechanism, consequences, and remedies with concluding
remarks for consideration.
This study assessed the morphometry and morphology
of gullies in Nasarawa State. Both primary and secondary data source were
employed for this study. The primary data were collected from direct field
observation and measurements. Secondary data were gathered through the review
of relevant literature. A recommendation survey to ascertain the general
characteristics of gullies in the state was carried out with the aid of
topography map of the study area. Lafia, Wamba and Karu LGA was selected from
each senatorial district to represent the study area has an undulating
topography and Furley (1996) observed that variation in topography could modify
occurrence of land degradation. Variable were measured or divided randomly from
each of the thirty-six-gully site in the study area. Twelve gully sites were
selected from each Government representing the study area. The results
generated from the field were subjected to statistical and laboratory analysis.
The results of the findings revealed that gullies in Lafia and Wamba LGA of
Nasarawa state are more affected 80% Kilema gully site in Lafia LGA recorded
the highest intern of gully length 315m followed by Traffic in Wamba LGA 303m,
UngwaSharu in Lafia LGA recorded the highest figure in term of gully length
325m followed by Traffic in Wamba LGA 285m respectively. In term of gully in
the study area, it recorded number 21.2m, traffic in Wamba LGA 20.3m, Gangare
wawa in Wamba LGA and Akurba in Lafia LGA recorded the same figure 17.3m,
respectively. Gully site in Mama, in Wamba LGA and Uke in Karu LGA of the study
area, recorded the last figure 4m in width magnitude. In term of area, gully
site in Marhai in Wamba LGA, Mararaba in Karu LGA and UngwaTiv. In Lafia LGA
recorded the highest number 0.21m2 and Adogi gully site in Lafia LGA
recorded the last of 0.5m2. Majority of the gullies in the study
area are characterized by U-S shape cross-section 60% and V-shape 30% U and
V-shape 10%. The findings also revealed the results of the mean value of volume
of soil loss in the study area was 14200.39tonnes/ha in all the gullies in the
study area. The mean values of large gullies length were 254.77, depth was
11.86, while that of very small gullies was length 65.16, depth was 4.66 and
slope angle was 9.0. Gullies in the area are long- narrow linear to rectangular
shaped. 55.6% of gullies are at their continuous stage of development while
44.4% of gullies were at their continuous stage of development.
Keywords: Erosion, Gully erosion, Morphometry and Morphology.
ABSTRACT: The
crisis of Boko Haram has led Nigerian
security forces launched a military offensive targeting Boko Haram
on May 2013, as a security project called
‘’safe havens places’’ after Former President Goodluck
Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some states which includes Borno,
Yobe and Adamawa in the Northeastern Nigeria. Despite an initial reduction in
Boko Haram attacks, the militant group reestablished a base in Borno State,
along Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, and killed more civilians than in any
period since its first attack under leadership of Abubakar Shekau in September
2010. Although
Shekau is Boko Haram’s most visible leader, after the killing of Muhammed Yusuf
by security personnel’s in Maiduguri. However, some group members of Boko Haram
split and formed Ansaru group factions whose suggest that Shekau is not the
only leader of Boko Haram. This Paper examines other militant leaders who
contributed to the operational and ideological development of Boko Haram and
Ansaru group, but specifically focuses on Abubakar Shekau, Khalid Al-Barnawi and Mamman Nur. The
paper has a findings that Khalid Al-Barnawi
and Mamman Nur are uniquely capable leaders whose expanded Boko Haram’s international connections to
al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al-Shabab, the Movement for Unity and
Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), Mokhtar Belmokhtar’s factions,
Al-Qa`ida core and other
militant groups in Africa. At the local level, Al-Barnawi and mid-level
commanders from Ansaru are likely operating with Shekau and Boko Haram, but
Nur’s ideological disagreements with Shekau and have instructed his followers from
not collaborating with Boko Haram on nature of operational attacks to civilians
rather than the security operatives and other government functionaries. The
paper has recommended that for security to be maintain in Nigeria, there is
need for Nigerian Government to uses the division and crisis of leadership
between the Boko Haram leaders to end the insurgent attacks embarks by Boko
Haram groups to civilians and established collaborative security operative
network between the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic
to end the Boko Haram menace.
Keywords: Insurgents, Boko Haram, Terrorism leadership, Power Crisis
