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The Effectiveness And Relevance Of Environmental Impact Assessment In The Sustainability Of The Built Environment In Nigeria: Perceptions Of Three Communities
Get PDFThere is paucity of data on the awareness of Environmental Impact Assessment across communities where environmental assessments have been completed for different ranges of projects. This has raised concerns for stakeholders and policy makers for decision making as part of improving the sustainability initiatives in the built environment. The research examined the perception of the public in Anambra State after post environmental impact assessment tasks in communities have been completed. This was to ascertain the extent of public awareness on the implications of EIA in the built environment. The field survey employed techniques such as survey method, focused group discussion, interview and observation to elicit information from the 450 respondents of the three communities: Uruezi Egbema Village Ozubulu, Aboh Amawa Ogbunike and Umuofor Ubahu Village, Okija, where selected Environmental Impact Assessment projects are located. Purposive sampling technique was employed. The hypothesis that guided the study was: Reaction and perception of residents to EIA as an instrument of environmental sustainability and governance do not vary across communities studied. The results supported the hypothesis as the calculated X2 was greater than the critical values at both 0.05 and 0.01 alpha levels. Awareness level and mitigation measures were shown to be poor. This raised serious concern on the implications of the level of awareness in environmental management issues in the study localities. It is therefore recommended that efforts must be made to improve EIA awareness through capacity building and enforcement of mitigation measures with available grants and incentives in environmental management. It is hoped that the findings will be useful to EIA practitioners and to ministries of Environment across the states of the Federation in Nigeria and thus provide a general guideline for other researchers in EIA quality evaluations.  
Tenement Rates And The Land Use Charge: A Comparative Evaluation Of Suitability For Sustainable Municipal Funding
Get PDFTenement Rate (TR) has been a feature of municipal funding in Nigeria since colonial times. In 2001, Lagos State, one of Nigeria\u27s sub-national units, introduced in its stead the Land Use Charge (LUC) which has subsequently been adopted by four other sub-national units of Nigeria: Anambra, Edo, Enugu and Ogun States. These developments suggest that TR is unsustainable as a system of municipal funding. Ironically, however, there is discernible in the LUC itself, a potential threat to sustainable municipal funding. This emanates from controversies which have the potential to reduce citizen compliance, and therefore, revenue yield. This paper compares and contrasts the two charges and systems. The findings are that TR, amongst other advantages, has a logical theoretical basis which the LUC lacks; it is locally administered, whereas the LUC is designed and run by the State; TR is constitutionally founded whilst the LUC is a State law of contestable constitutional validity. One may conclude that TR is the better option as its completely local focus suggests a higher potential for wide acceptability and enduring compliance. Contrarily, the hybrid LUC’s many shortcomings, particularly its dual purpose design for local and State needs, attracts controversy which casts a doubt as to its sustainability. 
The Cultural Meaning Of The Family House In Akure, Nigeria
Get PDFAkure is a prominent Yoruba city in South-western part of Nigeria with rich cultural and traditional value. The family house is a symbol of identity, and point of reference for the family. This study examined the cultural meaning of the family house in Akure, Nigeria. Data were collected from a focus group discussion and in-depth interviews with 20 indigenous family heads that still lived in their family house and 5 indigenous social groups in Akure. The data were subjected to thematic analysis and content analysis which revealed the various meanings attached to different aspects of the family house in Akure. The study concluded that the family house is a symbol of pride and it also communicates family identity. 
Analysis Of Solid Waste Evacuation From Residential Areas Around Major Markets In Awka Urban, Southeast Nigeria
Get PDFThe paper analysed solid waste evacuation from market neighbourhoods in two major markets in Awka urban. The study is hinged on the concept of sustainable solid waste management. Sustainability in this study encompasses all solid waste management practices that ensure the safety of the environment for the present generation without compromising the future of coming generations. Primary data were obtained from 200 copies of structured questionnaires, photo camera and a handheld GPS. Data from questionnaire was analysed using descriptive statistics while ArcGIS 10.3 NA was employed for the creation of optimized solid waste collection and disposal routes. The findings showed that 83% of residents in Eke-Awka neighbourhood indicated unavailability of dumpsters, while 17% agreed that dumpsters were available in their neighbourhoods. Similarly, majority of residents (94%) in Nkwo-Amaenyi neighbourhood indicated absence of dumpsters while 6% indicated presence of dumpsters in their neighbourhoods. For frequency of solid waste evacuation, a high proportion of respondents (63%) in Eke-Awka neighbourhood noted that wastes were collected twice a week, while majority of respondents (54%) in Nkwo-Amaenyi opined that wastes were collected once a week. Finally, ArcGIS 10.3 NA was employed to optimize solid waste collection routes to 18.8km in Eke-Awka and environs and 9.7km in Nkwo-Amaenyi and environs. The study therefore concludes that solid waste management around market environments in Awka urban is still in an embryonic phase of development and therefore recommends that more dumpsters should be provided within and outside the various markets to avoid heaps of market wastes
Role Of Land Surveyors And Geospatial Engineers In The Built Environment
No full textSurveying has been said to be the bedrock of any physical development. This implies that no meaningful physical development can occur without the direct and indirect application of the knowledge of surveying. This knowledge of measurement is vital to nation-building and land surveyors as geospatial experts around the world are saddled with the responsibility of providing the accurate geospatial information required in urban and rural development. The paper discusses the conventional and contemporary role of land surveyors in the built environment with a focus on the philosophy of surveying. It discusses some applications of the field of surveying, benefits of the land surveying profession, duties or responsibilities of a surveyor, dangers of neglecting the services of surveyors and lack of collaboration with other professionals in the built environment. It affirms that, for a sustainable urban milieu, the services of land surveyors are strongly required in planning, designing, executing and monitoring of developmental activities. The paper also established the need for professional collaboration and division of labour in the construction industry. It then recommends the use of appropriate professionals and concludes that sustainable physical development would be unattainable in developing countries without the use of land surveyors
Establishing Factors Influencing Building Maintenance Practices In Public Secondary Schools In Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria
Get PDFStakeholders in education and researchers have variously stated that existing buildings in public secondary schools in Nigeria lack adequate maintenance attention resulting generally in deplorable conditions of infrastructural disrepair. The apparent solution would therefore be to assess and establish the responsible factors to reverse the perceived deterioration in the system in ensuring effective maintenance practices in Nigeria. This paper therefore, focuses on establishment of factors influencing building maintenance practices in the public secondary schools using Onitsha, Nigeria as a case study. The study reviewed related literature on building maintenance. Data was obtained from personal observations, interviews and a structured questionnaire, which was administered on the school managers and the academic staff of the seven selected schools in the study area. The analysis revealed that common factors which are fundamental to building maintenance practices in those schools included: unavailability of maintenance manual and skilled labour to undertake maintenance operations, non-periodic inspection of buildings to ascertain level of maintenance needs, inadequate maintenance funding by responsible authorities, misuse of facilities after completion, neglect of maintenance issues on buildings, age of buildings and building defects. In conclusion, the study recommended that adequate measures should be taken to ensure corrective action for the deficiencies noted in this report. The government and the various stakeholders in education should make more effort in the areas of advocacy, policy formulation and creating awareness on the essence of maintenance in the public secondary schools in the study area and of the dangers associated with neglected it
Housing Management And Residents’ Satisfaction In Housing Estates In Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria: Case Study Of Central Bank Of Nigeria Quarters, Enugu
Get PDFSome housing estates in Enugu are in a state of disrepair and poor state of maintenance. This sometimes affects the level of residents’ satisfaction. The aim of this study therefore is to evaluate the nexus between housing management and residents’ satisfaction in housing estates with a view to identifying factors that affect satisfaction level of residents in the estates and proffer solutions with which housing estates can be effectively managed in Enugu and Nigeria in general. Nigeria as well as other developing countries is known for poor maintenance culture and unsustainable practices without considerations of the consequent effects on the environment. There is the need to investigate the relationship between housing management and resident’ satisfaction in housing estates in Enugu, Nigeria and offer feedback to the housing estate developers on the poor practices in the housing estate that affect residents’ satisfaction. The study focused on Central Bank Quarters, Enugu as a case study and adopted survey research design in the methodology. Questionnaires were administered to 70 households in the estate and the analysis showed that poor maintenance of facilities in the estate, state of repair of the buildings, performance of facilities in the buildings and time taken to respond to residents’ complaints are sources of dissatisfaction in the estate. Rules and regulations guiding residency and cleanliness level of the estate were found to be sources of satisfaction to the residents. The paper concluded that professionals in estate management should be used in managing estates and freehand given to them to apply their expertise in carrying out the management functions. Also, housing developers and providers should pay more attention to maintenance of buildings and facilities in estates as well as time taken to respond to residents’ complaints, these add to sources of residents’ satisfaction in housing
Impact Of Marital Trust Behaviour “MTB” On Home Ownership Amongst Public Tertiary Institutions’ Workers In Lagos State
Get PDFMarital trust behaviour (MTB) is the character of being honest, open and loyal to one’s spouse. It is believed that any family that enjoys MTB also gets committed to each other and may jointly take the responsibility of providing home for their family. This study examined the impact which MTB has on couples’ home ownership gravitas amongst public tertiary institutions’ workers in Lagos State, Nigeria. In order to achieve the aim, the objective put forward was to compare marital trust behaviour average scores for home owners and non-home owners among public tertiary institutions’ workers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Data for the study were gathered through administration of questionnaires to workers of six public tertiary institutions within the state. Independent Sample T- Test was used to test the postulated hypothesis, while Principal Component Analysis Techniques was employed in data exploration and reduction. The study revealed that home owners scored higher (Mean = 4.3, p < 0.001 @ 95% confidence level) in marital trust behaviour on a 5 point Likert scale (1 minimum – 5 maximum range) than non-home owners (Mean = 2.7, p < 0.001 @ 95 confidence level). It was also found that couples with high MTB made joint home ownership choices and decisions and optimism permeate the family’s domestic felicity. The study concludes that marital trust behaviour plays significant role in home ownership pursuit, with the implication that marital trust behaviour could be exploited by workers to achieve higher rate of home ownership
Evaluation Of The Geology, Water Resources And Geotechnical Properties Of Soils In Uga Area, Southeastern Nigeria
Get PDFWater is vital to life, ensures human survival and societal development. Its overdraft and harnessing can affect the environment adversely. This study evaluates the water resources and geotechnical properties of soils in Uga area, south-eastern Nigeria. The study area lies in the rainforest zone where rainfall is extreme and thus boasts of high water resources potential. Comprehensive data are lacking for effective water planning purposes. This research work contributes to existing data on the water resources potentials of Uga and environs. Surface waters (Obiada River and Agwura Stream), springs (Nwagene, Obizi and Ogbei Springs) abound in the area. Nanka Sands which is a prolific water bearing unit defines the underlying geology of the area. Flow rates of surface waters are high due to annual precipitation of 2500mm a year. Springs are clear. Nwangene Spring has a flow rate of 0.39 m/sec while Obizi spring has a flow rate of 0.04 m/sec. Borehole depth at Nanka and Oko is 380 meters and 314 meters respectively while static water level is 42 meters and 69 meters respectively. Huge sand deposits abound in the area. This research work highlighted the geotechnical properties of soils from the area. Cobble, pebble and gravel sized grains are absent. CBR values ranged from 30% to 35%. Highest MDD gave a value of 1-824gcm-3 with an OMC of 11%. The lowest MDD recorded a value of 1.622gcm-3 with an OMC of 8%. LI test conducted on one of the samples yielded a value of 16%. PL and PI tests gave zero values for all the samples. The geotechnical results implied that soils from the area are excellent to good reserves for sub-grade and sub-base materials respectively
The Unsuitability Of Entry Requirements As Predictors For Success In Architectural Design Courses: A Case Study Of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University
Get PDFStakeholders in architectural education have observed a decline in performance in architectural design courses and ascribed this trend to a drop in quality of candidates admitted into the programs being offered. The apparent solution would therefore be to seek to reverse the perceived deterioration in quality of entry candidates for the architecture program. This study, however, sought to investigate the relationship between students’ performance at entry and their performance in architectural design courses. The Department of Architecture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University was used as a case study. The study was aimed at determining whether the quality of performance at entry was sufficient to predict performance subsequently and hence proffer empirical guidance for seeking solutions to the observed problem. Historical design approach was adopted. Data was obtained from departmental records of students. The entry performance statistic used was the scores obtained in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Exam, while that used for performance in design was the aggregate score of results obtained in design courses offered in the program. It was found that differences in entry scores didn’t always translate into corresponding differences in design performance; hence it was flawed to use entry performance as sole basis for predicting performance of students in Design courses. It is recommended that a multi-factorial approach to investigating academic success be adopted for best results and that institutions should construct coherent policies that enable all sections of the institution to collaboratively create the conditions that will aid all students to succeed, irrespective of the attributes or capacities they enrol with