DOCSLIB.ORG

The Challenges of Developing Buguma Town As a Secondary City in Rivers State Nigeria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Challenges of Developing Buguma Town As a Secondary City in Rivers State Nigeria KIU Journal of Social Sciences KIU Journal of Social Sciences Copyright©2019 Kampala International University ISSN: 2413-9580; 5(2): 19–30 The Challenges of Developing Buguma Town as a Secondary City in Rivers State Nigeria VICTOR OWITUBO CHARLES, NALUBA GOODY NWIEKPIGI Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt Abstract. This study investigated the challenges Keywords: Challenges, Secondary, City, of developing Buguma as a secondary city in Developing. Rivers State. This study made use of public opinion survey research design with a sample 1. Introduction size of 200 respondents. Data was sourced from the research instrument known as developing 1.1 Background and Overview Buguma Secondary City Questionnaire (DBSCQ) designed along the Likert-type 4-point The philosophy underlying regional planning scale rating. Data was analyzed with both programmes is that the problems of urban and descriptive and inferential statistics. Simple rural areas are intricately connected and should percentage was used to analyze the descriptive be so solved within a regional framework and inferential statistics. Simple percentage was (Slatter 2012, World Bank, 2011). Similarly, used to analyze the socio-demographic global economic activities and population background of the respondents while mean and dynamics are increasingly concentrated in big standard deviation were used to analyze the cities and as a result, urban research has tended research questions. One way analysis of variance to focus on large metropolitan areas at the (ANOVA) was used to analyze the hypotheses. expense of secondary cities which have been a The results of the study revealed that majority of rediscovery of the city in academic discourse the respondents were male 108 (54%); were (Marais, Rooyen, Lenka and Cloete. 2014). graduates 68(34%), were between 40-49 years of age 61(30.5) were civil servants 114(57%), and Secondary cities are those places that range in were mainly from the Abbey-Karibo 80(40%) form and size from 150,000 to 5million people administrative block. The hypothesis revealed and perform a wide range of critical functions in that there is significant variation in the opinions national and international systems of cities of respondents on the challenges of developing (Robert and Hohmann, 2014). In a nutshell, Buguma as a secondary city. The study secondary cities imply medium sized towns that concludes by recommending that both the local are well-integrated within a rural region to offer government council and the Rivers State rural populations better living conditions, jobs, a government should embark on massive less-polluted environment and act not only as infrastructure development to attract more local markets for rural products but also as people to the town to enhance its development catalysts for rural economic diversification as a secondary city to change the narrative of (Bolay and Rabinovich, 2010). Under this Rivers State as a state with one city syndrome, circumstance, secondary cities primarily Port Harcourt. functioned as rural service centres serving in the 19 KIU Journal of Social Sciences capacity of growth points to the surrounding metropolitan centres and hence, they are directly hinterland. or indirectly pre-occupied by the problems of their host cities (Otiso, 2005). Corroborating the This is unlike the type of conventional “Growth above view is Adeyemo (2003) who opines that: Poles” which turn out to be parasitic rather than The poverty of the rural region of the less- generative centres. The generative settlements developed countries of the world is associated are those intermediate towns which pass on with asymmetrical structure of political power some benefits to the surrounding hinterland (i.e. relative powerlessness of rural population, whereas the parasitic centres grow fat on the inappropriate conception of the role of accumulated proceeds without passing any on agriculture in development process). Hence, the (Adeyemo, 2008). major cause of rural poverty in developing Nigeria, like most other developing economies countries is the power of urban elite; and so of the world is characterized by inequalities in long as the interests, background and terms of access to public facilities and sympathies remain predominantly urban, the development (Kanu, 2015). country side may get the “priority” but the city will get the “resources”. This observation is very obvious because the urban centres often chosen as state capitals in 1.2 Statement of Problem the country are growing rapidly to the detriment of their peripheral towns which are mostly local Regrettably enough, it is observed that the government headquarters (Naluba, 2016). appropriate development of secondary cities in Consequently, rural Nigeria is today not only Rivers State has been undermined by the been economically, socially and politically unwillingness of subsequent administrations to marginalized but backward and neglected such share political and fiscal powers with municipal that the gap between urban and rural areas is authorities and regional governments (Deekor alarming in strength and complexity. According 2016). Worthy of note is the fact that the to George (2010), Nigerian cities such as Lagos, existing one-city state structure of Rivers State Kano, Ibadan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kaduna since its creation (except Bayelsa State with and Calabar grow mainly through rural-urban Yenagoa, being the capital in 1996) reveals the migration and this urbanization process has excessive growth of Port Harcourt City at the outpaced the existing urban management detriment of other peripheral towns that are systems. This submission is in consonance with overdue for development as secondary cities. Ebong and Animashaun in Nwala (2018:2) who They are Bori, Omoku, Ahoada, Buguma, Bodo, reported thus; Abonnema, Bonny, Degema, Emohua, Opobo, Most of the problems experienced in the cities Isiokpo, Ngo and Okrika based on population such as unemployment, poor and inadequate size, the control of natural environment, housing and transportation facilities and development of social organizations and environmental decay are traceable to massive technological development (Wizor, 2013). immigration of people from the rural backlands. Therefore, this study is of the view that the Such migrations are generally stimulated by the overwhelming increase in Port Harcourt absence of facilities for personal survival and metropolis and its environs through the policy of maintenance, and lopsided location decisions Greater Port Harcourt City Programme without which favour over-concentration of jobs and the impression of developing secondary cities amenities in the urban at the expense of the across the state particularly Buguma town rural areas. implies the periphery‟s untapped reservoir of human and material resources, restricted Furthermore, many developmental and urban domestic markets, marked interregional management opportunities presented by imbalance and persistent insecurity of life and secondary cities in most developing countries property which proved to be serious obstacle to hardly utilize them because the political and sustainable development of Rivers State and economic elites are concentrated in the Nigeria in general. It is against this background 20 KIU Journal of Social Sciences that this paper investigates the challenges of developing Buguma town as a Secondary City in The area is characterized by semi-hot humid Rivers State. equatorial climate and relative humidity (Tamuno, 2008). It is typified by uniformly high 1.3 Aim and Objective of the Study temperature throughout the year, intense rainfall which occurs almost every month of the year, The aim of this study is to assess the challenges seasonally variable and energetic in down pour of developing Buguma in Rivers State as a with increasing distance from the ocean (Mmom Secondary City. To achieve this aim the and Fred-Nwangwu, 2013). This often graduates objective is to investigate the challenges facing to thunderstorm at its onset and cessation with Buguma town to develop as a Secondary City. variation in duration and amount between 4,700mm and 4,500mm in July – September, 1.4 Research Questions especially in popular rainfall stations like Opobo, Okrika and Bonny that are in the same What are the challenges facing Buguma town to geographical location with Buguma City develop as a Secondary City? (Fashiola et al, 2013, Bell-Gam 2002). 1.5 Hypothesis: The riverine area encompassing Buguma in There is significant variation in the opinions of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers respondents in the challenges facing Buguma State is divided into three main hydro-vegetation town to develop as a Secondary City among the zones. The beach ridge is extensively vegetated administrative blocks. by fresh water swamp trees, palm and shrubs on the sandy ridges and mangroves in the 1.6 Study Area: Buguma Town intervening valleys, creeks or tidal flats. The salt-water (mangrove) swamp zone is the tidal 1.6.1 Location and Extent flat vegetated by the red salt-rooted mangrove (Rhizophoraracemosa) and two other species Geographically, Buguma in Asari-Toru Local including the nypa palm that grows extensively Government Area of Rivers State is located under the influence of brackish water system and between longitude 60 00 and 60 35 East of the marine regimes. The fringe areas of raised Greenwich Meridian and Latitude 30 20 and 30 alluvial coastal plain terrace within the swamps 30 North of the Equator (Bell-Gam, 1990) are
Load more

Recommended publications
  • T Emohua Local Government Area Is One of the Four Local Government Areas That Make up the Ethnic Nationality of Ikwerre in Rivers State, Nigeria
    Developing Country Studies www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-607X (Paper) ISSN 2225-0565 (Online) Vol 2, No.8, 2012 The Implications of Youth Restiveness on the Socio -Economic Development of Ikwerre Nation of Rivers State: the Case of Emohua Local Government Area Solomon A. Ikunga Department of History and Diplomatic Studies , Ignatius Ajuru University of Education , Rumuoluemeni Port Harcourt. Rivers State Abstract Emohua Local Government Area is one of the four local government areas that make up the ethnic nationality of Ikwerre in Rivers state, Nigeria. Others are Obio/Akpor, Port Harc ourt and Ikwerre local governments. Ikwerre is within the wetland of Niger Delta sufficiently endowed with human resources, natural resources, such as forest resources, energy and water resources. Since after the Nigerian civil war, in 1970, the natural re sources located in Ikwerre land have been of paramount importance to the socio -economic development of the Nigerian state to the detriment of the Ikwerre people. Unfortunately, Ikwerre people have been denied not only access to these resources by the feder al government, but its benefits and enjoyment thereby keeping the place perpetually under developed and with extreme poverty and neglect. It is within this context that the issues relating to its youth restiveness and the attendant socio-economic deprivati on need to be properly examined in this work. Keywords: Resources, Exploration, Deprivation, Restiveness, Development. Introduction Emohua Local Government is to Ikwerre what Ikwerre is to Rivers State and what Rivers State is to Nigeria in terms of strat egic geographical location, population, overwhelming political votes in elections, massive endowment of natural resources etc.
    [Show full text]
  • (FNP) Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria
    Biodiversity Assessment of Finima Nature Park (FNP) Bonny Island, Rivers State, Nigeria October, 2019 Finima Nature Park Biodiversity Assessment 2019 Table of Contents Preface .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Wildlife and Mammals ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.0 Methods Employed in this FNP Mammal Study ..................................................................................................... 8 3.0 Results and Discussion .......................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Highlights of the Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 17 4.0 Towards Remediation of the Problems that Mammals and other Wildlife now Face or May Face in the Future, in the FNP and Environs ...................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Ogoni of Nigeria A
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Faculty Publications Anthropology, Department of 2002 The goniO of Nigeria A. Olu Oyinlade University of Nebraska at Omaha, [email protected] Jeffery M. Vincent University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Oyinlade, A. Olu and Vincent, Jeffery M., "The gO oni of Nigeria" (2002). Anthropology Faculty Publications. 113. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthropologyfacpub/113 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Chapter 7 The Ogoni of Nigeria A. Olu Oylnlade and Jeffery M. VIncent CULTURAL OVERVIEW The People The Ogoni are a minority ethnic people who live in the Western Niger Delta Region of southern Nigeria. During the 1970s, Ogoniland, or the Ogoni Nation, became part of the Rivers State of Nigeria. There are ap­ proximately 500,000 Ogoni who represent less than 0.05 percent of Ni­ geria's 100 to 120 million people. The population density of this region equals 1,233 people per square mile, making it one of the most densely populated areas of Nigeria. Reliable information about the origin of the Ogoni is limited. Archaeo­ logical and oral historical evidence suggests that the Ogoni have inhabited the area for over 500 years. Presently, two theories exist about the origin of this people.
    [Show full text]
  • Statement Delivered by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the 2020 Biodiversity Summit 30Th September, 2020
    STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 2020 BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2020 President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honoured to participate in this segment of the High- Level Summit convened ahead of the 15th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 2. I am aware that the objective of the summit is to mobilize greater support and enhanced action at the highest levels of Government, Industry, Academia and Civil Society against Biodiversity loss. 3. This Summit presents a unique opportunity for each of us, as global leaders, to demonstrate measurable commitment to accelerate action toward the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Indeed, negligence in renewing our commitment to halt the ongoing destruction of nature and nature-based solutions will seriously threaten our collective existence in the post Covid-19 era. 4. I am concerned that the attainment of national developmental priorities as well as internationally agreed developmental aspirations would be hampered if the critical value of biodiversity and ecosystem services are not recognized and appreciated by our citizens. 5. Nigeria, like other countries, has wide array of rich and valuable national heritage that include, impressive network of wetlands, wildlife, and forestry resources. Regrettably, most of the indigenous flora and fauna commonly found within the country are becoming endangered and facing extinction. 6. To reverse this situation, we have developed the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan as an enabler for integrating biodiversity considerations into sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, plans and programmes at all levels of government.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterization and Delineation of Aquifer in Part of Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria
    IOSR Journal of Applied Geology and Geophysics (IOSR-JAGG) e-ISSN: 2321–0990, p-ISSN: 2321–0982.Volume 2, Issue 4 (Jul-Aug. 2014), PP 30-37 www.iosrjournals.org Characterization and Delineation of Aquifer in Part of Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria 1I. Tamunobereton-ari, 2V. B. Omubo-Pepple and 3A.R.C. Amakiri 1,2,3Department of Physics, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt 500001, Nigeria. Abstract: Hydrogeological work was carried out to providing an alternative source of portable water supply to Omoku and its environs as their major source of water which is surface water had been contaminated/polluted by oil and gas exploration, exploitation and other anthropogenic activities in the area. To obtaining reliable data and achieving the aim, geoelectric sounding method and Schlumberger array was employed with the use of a digital averaging instrument ABEM terrameter SAS 300 model that displays the resistance measurements directly with a maximum current electrode separation (AB) of 100m. WinResist software computer iterative procedure was used, which aided to obtaining interpreted depths and resistivities from field data. The results of the geoelectric survey were tied to various lithologies by calibrating the geoelectric values with borehole data which enabled us to establish the aquiferous zones. The aquifers were located at depth of about 22m to 30m based soil profile and high resistivity values ranging from 3415m to 4555m. The information from the findings can be successfully used to harnessing and supply safe, portable and sustainable water to the people of Omoku and its environs in Rivers State, Nigeria. Keywords: Groundwater, aquifer, geoelectric layer, Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) I.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded for Personal Non-Commercial Research Or Study, Without Prior Permission Or Charge
    https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ Theses Digitisation: https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/research/enlighten/theses/digitisation/ This is a digitised version of the original print thesis. Copyright and moral rights for this work are retained by the author A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge This work cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Enlighten: Theses https://theses.gla.ac.uk/ [email protected] THE POLITICS AMO ADMINISTRATION OF COhTUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA BY LAURENCE A.8. lYAGOA Submitbed for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Glasgow Duly 1976 ProQuest Number: 10647271 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uesL ProQuest 10647271 Published by ProQuest LLO (2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLO. ProQuest LLO.
    [Show full text]
  • Ikwerre Intergroup Relations and Its Impact on Their Culture
    83 AFRREV VOL. 11 (2), S/NO 46, APRIL, 2017 AN INTERNATIONAL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, ETHIOPIA AFRREV VOL. 11 (2), SERIAL NO. 46, APRIL, 2017: 83-98 ISSN 1994-9057 (Print) ISSN 2070-0083 (Online) DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v11i2.7 Ikwerre Intergroup Relations and its Impact on Their Culture Chinda, C. Izeoma Department of Foundation Studies Port Harcourt Polytechnic, Rumuola Phone No: +234 703 667 4797 E-mail: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract This paper examined the intergroup relations between the Ikwerre of the Niger Delta, South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria and its impact on their culture. It analyzed the Ikwerre relations with her Kalabari and Okrika coastal neighbours, as well as the Etche, Eleme, Ekpeye, Ogba Abua and the Igbo of Imo state hinterland neighbours. The paper concluded that the internal developments which were stimulated by their contacts impacted significantly on their culture. Key words: Ikwerre, Intergroup Relations, Developments, Culture, Neighbour. Introduction Geographical factors aided the movement of people from one ecological zone to another in migration or interdependent relationships of trade exchange. These exchanges and contacts occurred even in pre-colonial times. The historical roots of inter-group relations of the Ikwerre with her neighbours, dates back to pre-colonial times but became prevalent from the 1850 onward when the Atlantic trade became emphatic on agrarian products as raw materials to the industrial western world. This galvanized the hitherto existing inter-group contact between the Ikwerre and her neighbouring potentates. Copyright © International Association of African Researchers and Reviewers, 2006-2017: www.afrrevjo.net.
    [Show full text]
  • The Andoni People of Rivers State
    The Andoni people of Rivers State, of Nigeria, are considered to be an Ijaw tribe by some, a distinct ethnolinguistic group by others, and a people closely related to the Annang, Igbo, Ibibio and Efik people of Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State in Nigeria. Like these people, the Andoni people refer to God as Awaji or Owaji.[1] Historically, the Andoni (Idoni or Indo) Is the first son among the many sons of Ijo (Ujo) heir to the throne of Oduduwa (Adumu) of Ile-Ife before the colonial era and had commercial contacts with European traders and with neighboring Ijaw clans, such as the Bonny, Okrika, Kalabari, and Nkoro. The Andoni frequently fought wars with the Kingdom of Bonny. The Andoni people speak Obolo as the only native language. Obolo language is a combination of words from Igbo, Efik, Ibibio, Annang, Okrika, Ijaw, and Nembe [2] . There is a historical link between the Okrika and the Andoni people. The Andoni people are the fiercest warriors in the Niger Delta, they have fought many wars with the Ogonis yet they are the best of friends. The Andoni (Obolo) clan of Ijaw is very wide with Ohafia and Aro (Arochukwu) people in Igbo land, Eastern Obolo, Ibeno-Eket and Oron in Akwa Ibom states and Andoni, Kala-Ido and Ogoloma in Rivers State. The Andoni people are very cultural, among the key towns are Ngo (Gogo), Ebukuma, Ikuru (Ikwut), Ataba, Ekede, Agwut-Obolo, Okoromboko, Okoroete, Iko, (Eastern Obolo axis), Asarama, Unyeada, Dema and Ilotombi. The Nwantam masquerade of Andoni celebrated every first January is one of the highlights of Obolo festivities, which they share with the Opobo, Nkoro, Bonny and Ndoki Ijaws.
    [Show full text]
  • Democracy and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria: a Case Study of Rivers State: 1999 – 2007
    Journal of Language, Technology & Entrepreneurship in Africa, Vol.2. No.2 2010 DEMOCRACY AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF RIVERS STATE: 1999 – 2007 Nekabari Johnson Nna & Prince Ikechukwu Igwe ABSTRACT This paper seeks to examine the extent to which Nigeria’s democratic experience (1999-2007) has elevated the living standards of the majority of the people. It specifically aimed at search lighting the impact of the regime’s key poverty reduction strategies vis-à-vis the overall poverty situation in the country in general and Rivers State in particular. The study focused on two poverty reduction strategies: National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and the Rivers State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (RIVSEEDS). The study utilized the primary and secondary sources of data in realizing its central objective. The Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA) method was also adopted in the course of this research work. The sample population was drawn from ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State; Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Emohua, Etche, Omuma, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Abua/Odual and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGAs. The research work employed the Political Economy (P.E.) method of analysis. The PE approach elucidates in very clear terms how the policies and reforms of successive governments in Nigeria have debilitated the productive forces of a great number of her population. The findings of this study showed that the democratic experience has impacted little to the poverty situation of the people of Rivers State. It also revealed that the present government’s poverty reduction programme is yet to be complemented by other macroeconomic policies to yield the desired results of poverty reduction, wealth creation and capacity building.
    [Show full text]
  • International Journal of Contemporary Research and Review Assessment of Corrosion of Mild Steel Buried in Soils of the Niger
    International Journal of Contemporary Research and Review Available Online at: www.ijcrr.info ISSN: 0976-4852 Volume 11|Issue 01, January, 2020| Assessment of Corrosion of Mild Steel Corresponding Author: Buried In Soils of the Niger Delta, Nigeria G.C. ONWUGBUTA Received: 2019-12-20 1G.C. ONWUGBUTA 2G.N. JOHN Accepted 2020-01-18 Publish Online 2020-01-21 1 Department of Biochemistry/Chemistry Technology, 2 School of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Port Harcourt DOI: https://doi.org/10.15520/ijcrr.v11i01.780 Abstract: This study determines the corrosion rate and percent weight loss of mild steel buried in soils of the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria. Six geologic zones representing the upland and wetland soils were used for the assessment. The corrosion rates of mild steel in these soils were monitored to assess the extent of corrosion. However, the upland soils (Odagwa, Ogoni, Ahoada and Omoku) were more resistant to corrosion than the wetland (Kaiama and Elebele) soils. The corrosion rate of mild steel at the 24th month was in the following order of corrosivity: Elebele > Kaiama > Omoku > Ahoada > Ogoni > Odagwa. The percent weight loss was higher at the 24th month, with the highest values found at the Meander Belt Deposits of Elebele. Alternately, the Coastal Plain Sands were found to have the least percent weight loss with the lowest value recorded at Odagwa site at the 24th month. The percent weight loss at the 24th month is in the following order: Elebele > Omoku > Kaiama > Ahoada > Ogoni > Odagwa. The variation in corrosion rate and weight loss of mild steel buried in the different soil types is caused by the aquic moisture regime of the soils, anthropogenic activities carried out, microorganisms present in the soils, and also, the physico-chemical properties of the soils.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Soil Quality in Representative Pedons of the Sombreiro Warri Deltaic Plain of the Niger Delta, Nigeria
    International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Science Vol. 3 No. 5 ISSN 2489-0081 2017 www.iiardpub.org Assessment of Soil Quality in Representative Pedons of the Sombreiro Warri Deltaic Plain of the Niger Delta, Nigeria Kamalu1* O. J., Udom1 B. E. & Omenihu2 A. A. 1Crop and Soil Science Department, University of Port Harcourt 2Soil Science Department, Abia State University Umudike-Umuahia Campus Abia State 1*[email protected] ABSTRACT Assessment of soil quality of the Ogba-Egbema area of the Sombreiro Warri Deltaic Plain was undertaken by morphological characterization and ranking of soil physical and chemical properties. A total of 80 genetic soil samples from 16 soil profiles and one hundred and twenty (120) random surface samples taken from farm plots along eight (8) transects in the area were studied. The ranking of the eight transects in a descending order was: Akabuka/Obite > Umuoru/Ndoni > Omoku/Egbegoro > Obagi/Ogbogu > Obiafu > Aggah/Egbema > Ebocha/Okwuzi > Omoku/Elele. From the results obtained the top three ranked transects: Akabuka/Obite, Umuoru/Ndoni and Omoku/Egbegoro were rated 59.0, 52.0 and 42.7% respectively of the various parameters qualifying for high fertility indices while the three transects with lowest quality (Aggah/Egbema, Ebocha/Okwuzi and Omoku/Elele) had only 28.8, 22.7 and 21.0% respectively of sample stations that qualified them for high soil quality status. Five soil properties: drainage, depth, total organic matter, soil colour and texture, were delineated as the minimum data set needed for soil quality determination in the area. Most of the fertility indices were below critical limits as expressed by low ECEC, low organic matter and low available P.
    [Show full text]
  • Rivers Conflict Tracker June 2018
    Conflict Incident Monthly Tracker Rivers State: May - Ju ne 20 1 8 B a ck gro und land and poor amenities in their Ethno-nationalism: In May, many members communities in Tai LGA. The protesters of the Movement for the Actualization of the This monthly tracker is designed to update marched to the Rivers State Government Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were Peace Agents on patterns and trends in House, calling on the Federal government to reportedly arrested by the police in Port conflict risk and violence, as identified by the rebuild their land that was destroyed over 24 Harcourt. The supporters of the movement Integrated Peace and Development Unit years ago. were celebrating the ‘National Day’ and 18th (IPDU) early warning system, and to seek Criminality and communal conflict were key year anniversary of the agitation for the feedback and input for response to mitigate drivers of violence affecting women and girls sovereign state of Biafra. areas of conflict. (VAWG) during the period. Others: In May, a jetty, boats and other Patterns and Trends Violence Affecting Women and Girls marine equipment worth billions of naira M arch -M ay 2 018 (VAWG): In April, gunmen ripped open the were destroyed by fire reportedly caused by womb of a teenager who was pregnant and illegal oil bunkering in Obio/Akpor LGA. According to Peace Map data (see Figure 1), took away the fetus in Emohua LGA. Separately, rainstorm destroyed several incidents reported during this period Separately, five persons including a pregnant property, including buildings, cars, and included communal tensions, gang/cult woman were reportedly killed during a clash electricity poles in Obio/Akpor LGA.
    [Show full text]