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Rural farm-households perception of land-related conflicts as an impediment to rural livelihoods in Imo State, Nigeria
Get PDFThis article contains tablesThe aim of this was to establish whether or not land-related conflicts could be detrimental to the lives and survival of rural people in Imo State. The specific objectives were to identify livelihood strategies of the respondents, examine perceived causes of conflicts in the area; ascertain effects of conflicts on rural economy/livelihood of the respondents and determine measures to reduce conflicts in the study area. Purposive random sampling technique was used to select 300 respondents from conflicts affected areas in Imo State. Data were collected with structured questionnaire and oral discussion with the respondents. Data were analyzed using percentages and mean to achieve the objectives of the study. The results showed that 100% of the respondents engaged in farming for survival. The major causes of the conflicts were human population pressure (M=3.43), encroachment without permission (M= 3.30), land tenure system (M=3.45), among others. The major effects of conflicts on rural economy and livelihood were farmland abandonment (M = 3.37), decrease income (M=3.12), reduction in yield (M=3.31), loss of lives (M=3.60), insecurity (M=3.00), increased hunger and starvation ( M=3.47) among others. To curb conflicts, security be provided to the communities, settlement of dispute be done quickly, and educating all actors would be necessary
In-situ combustion: Reservoir candidacy/project selection criteria(s) for Niger Delta heavy oil reservoirs
Get PDFThis article contains diagrams, figures and tables.There is a drastic need for the oil companies operating within the onshore(s) and offshore(s) of Nigeria to critically start looking at the various possibilities of heavy oil production from the nation’s various fields located in the Niger Delta region using already available Enhanced Oil Recovery techniques/methods such as In-situ combustion (ISC), CHOPS and SAGD. This study focused on In-situ combustion as a means of enhancing likely heavy oil production in the Niger Delta using the Nelson & McNeil 1961 ISC model. The study developed applicable screening criteria(s) for both reservoir candidacy and ISC project selection in the Niger Delta. Corresponding programs and flow-charts that would allow petroleum engineers in the Niger Delta to theoretically evaluate production erformances using his/her computer(s) was also developed. It was discovered also during our course of work that all six reservoirs considered in both Case 1 (Venezuela reservoir) and Case 2 (Niger Delta reservoirs) met this study’s reservoir candidacy selection criteria(s) for possible applicability of an ISC project performance evaluation(s) with respect to enhancing oil production. These reservoirs were further graded / ranked based on their theoretical ISC project performances as calculated and evaluated using a well known ISC model as documented in the ISC handbook
Structural changes in the global transport chain: Implications for ports
Get PDFThe article has a tableStructural changes in trade and transport environment have come about in response to globalization of production centres, factors and consumption patterns coupled with technological advances in ship and shipping methods. The resulting demand pressure induced on supply chains means that supply chain partners must innovate to remain afloat. On the other hand, ports have been at the receiving end being a critical node in the supply chain. Through content analysis and review of extant literature, the structural changes in the global transport chains were assessed to determine their broad implications on ports. The findings suggest that ports must adopt proactive measures aimed at accommodating strategic interests of shippers and shipping lines/carriers which constitute their major supply chain customers. In line with previous studies, this paper makes a case for adoption of efficiency measures in ports for sustained viability given the prevailing fluid transport environment
Mercerized Milletia sp fiber epoxy composites: Fiber loading, aspect ratio and mechanical properties
Get PDFA research article with figures and tablesThe fiber loading capacity and poor adhesion between fibers and matrix remains an area of concern in fiber polymer composites. The fiber loading capacity and aspect ratio of mercerized milletia sp fiber on mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus, tensile toughness, elongation, flexural and impact strength) of Milletia sp fiber epoxy composites was investigated. Milletia sp fiber was extracted using water retting approach. The extracted fiber was mercerized at optimum treatment conditions of 5.84 wt% NaOH and 42.58mins. The epoxy composite samples were prepared using hand layup method for epoxy 103 and amine hardner in a ratio 2: 1 and commingled with untreated and treated fiber, respectively, at optimum treatment conditions. The fiber loading of 10 – 50 wt% and aspect ratio of 42.68 – 213.38 mm/mm were used. The mechanical properties of mercerized milletia sp fiber epoxy composite were determined and optimized using RSM of MATLAB statistical tool box. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, toughness, elongation, flexural strength and impact strength for epoxy resin was 44.2 MPa, 1.9716 GPa, 0.8177 MPa, 3.1%, 85.4 MPa and 360 Kj/m2, respectively. At optimum aspect ratio and fiber loading, the mercerized milletia sp fiber increased the tensile strength, tensile modulus, toughness, elongation, flexural strength and impact strength of the epoxy resin by 46.38, 77.75, 97.99, 18.81, 125.06 and 217.78%, respectively. Thus, mercerized Milletia sp fiber enhanced the mechanical properties of epoxy composites
Status of institutional arrangements for managing resource use conflicts among crop farmers and pastoralists in Imo State, Nigeria
No full texta research article on institutional arrangements for managing resource use conflicts among crop farmers and pastoralists. It contains tables and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 LicenseThis study ascertained the institutions put in place to manage conflicts between crop farmers and pastoralists in Imo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study aimed to achieve the following objectives; to identify the institutions saddled with the responsibility of managing conflicts in the study area; determine strategies used by the institutions in managing conflicts in the area; and to ascertain factors hindering the management of conflicts between crop farmers and pastoralists. Data were collected with structured questionnaire, complimented with observation and oral interview from 300 crop farmers and 40 nomads. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as mean and standard deviations. The results showed that traditional rulers (M=2.90 for crop farmers and 2.37 for pastoralists), town unions/Miyetti-Allah (M=2.11 crop farmers and M=2.52 for the pastoralists) were efficient in managing conflicts. The strategies employed in resolving conflicts include setting up of community committees for peaceful resolution of conflict issues and use of dialogue, accommodation of the other party. On and off nature of the pastoralists, lack of fund, corruption, distrust were factors that work against conflict resolution. The government should give the institutions mentioned earlier more powers in handling conflict issues and locate the nomads permanently at a place
Effects of fly ash and rice-husk ash on lime stabilization of expansive soils from Lokpaukwu and Awgu, Nigeria
Get PDFThis Master's Thesis focuses on the Environmental Geology specializationSoil stabilization refers to the technique of altering the properties of a soil so as to improve its engineering performance. It aims at using chemical additives such as lime as a lone stabilizer or in combination with industrial residues (fly ash, rice husk ash, etc) to achieve this fit. This work investigates the effects of lime alone, lime fly ash (LFA) and lime-rice husk ash (LRHA) blends in varying percentage mixtures on the engineering properties of expansive soils from Lokpaukwu (Ezeaku Formation) and Awgu (Awgu Formation) in Lower Benue Trough. The soils were stabilized with different percentages of lime (i.e. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%) and varying percentage ratio for lime-fly ash and lime-rice husk ash blends (i.e. 2 : 6, 2 : 8, 2.5:7.5, 2.5 : 10, 3 : 9, 3 : 12, 4 : 12, 4 : 16, 5 : 15 and 5:20).Liquid limit, plastic limit, linear shrinkage, compaction characteristics and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests were performed on the natural and lime-treated Lokpaukwu and Awgu soil samples while consistency limits and linear shrinkage tests only were performed on the lime-residue treated soil samples. Results of the study indicate that optimum reduction percentage of 24.14% and 30.56% (liquid limits), 72.22% and 74.42% (plasticity indices), 56.14% and 60.12% (linear shrinkages) and maximum percentage increase of 25.60 and 33.70 (Optimum Moisture Content (OMC)), 193.3 and 250 (unsoaked CBR), and 766 and 700 (soaked CBR) for Lokpaukwu and Awgu samples respectively were obtained on stabilizing the soils with 6% lime content. The results from lime-fly ash (LFA) and lime-rice husk ash (LRHA) blends indicate that liquid limits, plasticity indices and Linear Shrinkages decreased from 58 and 72 to 46 and 51, 36 and 43 to 11 and 12, 11.4 and 14.3 to 6.4 and 7.1, and from 58 and 72 to 45 and 51, 36 and 43 to 10 and 11, 11.4 and 14.3 to 6.4 and 7.1 for Lokpaukwu and Awgu samples respectively when treated with Lime-fly ash blend of 3 – 12% and lime-rice husk ash blend of 3 – 9%. It could be concluded that improving the characteristics of expansive soils by lime-fly ash blend or lime-rice husk ash blend is successful and provides immense environmental and economic benefitsDepartment of Geology, FUT
Effects of livelihood sustenance activities on off-farm income of poultry farmers in Imo state, Nigeria
No full textA research article on "Effects of livelihood sustenance activities on off-farm income of poultry farmers" It contains tables.The study analysed the off farm income and its effect on livelihood sustenance of poultry farmers in Imo state. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents. Data for the study were obtained with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square bivariateregression model. Results showed that: the mean off-farm income of poultry farmers was N410223 per annum. Livelihood sustenance activities of poultry farmers positively and significantly affected their off-farm income. It is recommend that government should come up policies that will center on establishment of more livelihood sustenance activities for poultry farmers that will generate increased off-farm income and promote
agricultural development simultaneously
An experimental investigation of pristine barite adsorption on sodium oleate and sodium palmitate
Get PDFA research article with figures and tablesCharacterization of the pristine barite mineral was established using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). Barite was applied for sodium oleate and sodium palmitate adsorption in aqueous solutions. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted into two adsorption isotherms, three kinetic models and thermodynamic study. The concentration of the ion and pH in the solution proved to be a controlling factor in the adsorption process. Sodium oleate and sodium palmitate soaps adsorbed strongly onto the barite mineral at pH 9 and a temperature of 293k. They result was affected by the high bulk density and chemical resistance nature of barite indicated by successive increase in dosage amount. The effect of concentration and time typically gave a C-type adsorption isotherm. Adsorptive isotherm showed that sodium palmitate adsorption over natural barite was better described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm while oleate desorption gave a good fitting with Freundlich isotherm. The adsorptive kinetics of sodium palmitate fitted well into pseudo 1st order and 2nd order kinetics. Intra particle diffusion was not the rate-determining step. Thermodynamic study showed a physiosorption that was exothermic. Hence the findings showed that pristine barite absorbs at optimum pH and temperature of 9 and 293k