The study investigated the challenges and prospects of urban residential housing in Aba metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria. A primary investigation involving data collection through questionnaire survey was employed by administering a total of 400 copies to residents in ten selected areas belonging to high standard, medium standard and low standard residential areas in Aba North and Aba South Local Government Areas of Abia State. The characteristics of the respondents for the study involved both indigenes and migrants who are occupants in selected sampled areas in Aba metropolis. More of the research questionnaire was administered in Aba South (79%) than Aba North (21%). Thus, a total of 318 copies of questionnaire were administered in Aba South against 82 copies of the questionnaire administered in Aba North due to population size differences. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data presentation and analysis. Findings of the study revealed that majority of sampled respondents (23.8%) in the low standard residential area earn low forcing them to embrace cheaper housing which they can afford because of the cost of house/land in other parts of the metropolis. The factors creating housing problems in the study area were: economy (77.2%); population increase (78.2%); land tenure (74.8%); the cost of land (74.3%); shortage of housing (77.5%) and weak housing policies (86.9%). Respondents attested to the fact that the quality of housing is poor in the study area because planned, healthy and livable environments supporting basic human needs (79.8%) amongst others are not adequate in the study area. The correlation between income and house ownership was significant (r=0.250, p=0.05); while factors that determine rent differ significantly in the study area. The study recommended that urban renewal strategy should be encouraged in Aba South through the provision of adequate infrastructural development to achieve social integration and addressing the problem of unemployment and poverty. Finally, the government should ensure they review residential housing policies directed at promoting affordability and solving the problems of the housing deficit in the study area.
Proximate and ultimate analysis have been carried out on cretaceous coal samples from Emewe Efopa in the Northern Anambra Basin of Nigeria to determine its mineralogical composition and chemical characteristics. The analysis indicates that the coal, on average, contains 25.5% ash, 6.33% moisture, 27.33% volatile matter, 40.83% fixed carbon. It also contains 0.72% nitrogen, 0.04% phosphorus, 63.92% organic carbon, 0.91% sulphur, 3.25% hydrogen. Geophysical investigation using vertical electrical sounding (schlumberger array) reveals that the study area has six geoelectric layers: sandstone, claystone, shale, coal, claystone, claystone respectively. The coaly layer has a resistivity of 31104Ω. The integration of the different studies carried out in the study area has aid in the ranking of the coal deposits to be a low ranked sub-bituminous type.
The study of leachate is an on-going and current debate on global platform by researchers across disciplines. This is because of its impact on geoenvironment, particularly on groundwater resources. The study aimed at examining heavy metal and physico-chemical characteristics of leachate and its impacts on groundwater in Ikhueniro, Benin City Nigeria. The study findings will propose management strategies to promote environmental safety and groundwater resources protection. The study employed integrated scientific techniques and literature review to actualize its goals. The results obtained in the study revealed that the values of pH and Pb range were 5.78 – 6.80 and 0.03-0.05 mg/l respectively. Others include Fe (0.03-0.9) and Ni (0.05-0.64). It was observed that groundwater samples tested for heavy metal Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni and Fe in borehole tagged GW1, GW2, GW5 and RW within and around the study site were significantly impacted with Pb, Ni and Fe while GW2, GW5 and RW were lower in concentration of Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni and Fe. The study further revealed that leachate plume from dumpsite at the study site was the source of groundwater contamination. In view of the foregoing, the authors proposed that waste management techniques at grassroots level and strict compliance to the 4Rs methods of waste management practices as well as enforcement of environmental laws should be strictly adhered to in management of safe environment and protection of groundwater resources for sustainable development.
A geo-electric survey using 1-D carried out to identify suitable sites and construction of boreholes that will give water supply for large irrigation work at Challawa-Gorge Dam, North West Basement complex, Nigeria. The data was acquired using Schlumberger technique at points chosen across the study area. The data analyzed with IPI2WIN software, information from a borehole where use as control for delineation of virtual geologic model of the study area. Th eresults suggest 4-5 geo-electric layers exist in the study area. The topsoil layer having resistivity range between 158 ohm m to 417 ohm m and thickness range between 0 m to 3 m. Sand layer having resistivity range between 58 ohm m to 107 ohm m and thickness range between 7 m to 14 m. Weathered rock layer having resistivity range between 122 ohm m to 192 ohm and thickness range between 7 m to 9 m. Moderately fractured layer having resistivity range between 166 ohm m to 317 ohm m and thickness range between 28 m to 31 m. Fresh bedrock layer having resistivity greater than 1000 0hm m and infinite thickness. Lithological units suggest weathered and underlain by partially weathered, fractured basement as the aquifer zone where it is extensively thick and suitable points for borehole selected based on the depth and thickness range of the aquifer layers.
A major and very important stage in exploration and production projects of any given field is the field development planning program. Conventionally most Field Development Planning (FDP’s) are performed without the use of high resolution and fidelity data, such as seismic inversion products. This paper demonstrates the need for integration of seismic inversion products into FDP’s and its added values in the process. The lithology and fluid volumes were computed using seismic inversion products, acoustic impedance (AI) and Poisson’s ratio (PR). The volume obtained shows oil, gas or water probabilities, which are crucial in well placement program and optimal well planning (FDP’s common goals). The values of seismic inversion integration added to FDP includes improved volumetrics from high fidelity porosity and permeability volumes, better lithology and fluid discrimination, Proper placement of oil water contact for better history matching for flow simulation. Also the rock property changes were estimated from seismic inversion to determine reservoir behavior over time, the acoustic impedance was observed to decrease with an increase in Poisson ratio, when pore pressure increases and vice versa. But with decrease in pore pressure, both the acoustic impedance (AI) and poisson’s ratio (PR) thus increase, thereby causing the lighter fluid (oil) to be replaced by heavier fluid (water). Based on the obtained 4-D inversion result, the oil water contact was shifted downwards in the reservoir model, which subsequently gives a better history matching for flow simulation. The study shows the robustness of using seismic attributes in FDP’s.
