UnizikSpace Community: Department of Environmental Management

Residents’ partnering in public housing basic infrastructure provision and maintenance: a strategy for satisfactory public housing provision

2014-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Residents’ partnering in public housing basic infrastructure provision and maintenance: a strategy for satisfactory public housing provision Authors: Okoye, Chinedu, Oguejiofo Abstract: This paper discusses residents’ partnering in public housing basic infrastructure facilities as a strategy for satisfactory public housing provision. It was motivated by the result of the evaluation of the status of basic infrastructure facilities in our public housing estates considering the rapid relocation of occupants to private estates and neighborhoods and on the premise that these are model housing estates. It identifies the quantity, quality, maintenance and level of residents’ satisfaction on the basic infrastructure facilities which are roads, sanitary and non- sanitary facilities, water, electricity, and solid waste disposal facilities. A total of five hundred and six households representing seventy-two point three percent of the total households in five habited estates in Awka-Nigeria, viz Udoka, Ahocol I and II, Iyiagu and Real estates were examined through a fifty-four item questionnaire and analyzed. Results obtained reveal generally that though the quantity of basic infrastructure facilities provided in the estates are fairly adequate, the quality and maintenance of these facilities are poor. The residents of the estates are generally dissatisfied with the provisions. The paper recommends a strategy for the involvement of the public housing estates residents in public housing basic infrastructure provision. Description: Scholarly Work

Assessment of the Level of Compliance of Petroleum Filling Stations to Development Control Standards on Land Space/Size and Setbacks in Anambra State.

2020-02-19T00:00:00Z

Title: Assessment of the Level of Compliance of Petroleum Filling Stations to Development Control Standards on Land Space/Size and Setbacks in Anambra State. Authors: Okoye, C.O; Ulasi Uwadiegwu, J.O.; Uwadiegwu, B.O Abstract: Sequel to the loss of lives and properties with other attendant negative socio-economic effects of non-compliance to development control standards, this study was conceived with the aim of assessing the level of compliance of petroleum filling stations to development control standards on land space/size and setbacks in Anambra State. The study adopted the survey research design and field measurement. There were actual field measurements of the filling stations under study as well as the use of imageries of the study areas to identify these filling stations and measure their level of compliance to set standards for distances and location. 270 filling stations which is about 31% of the total number of filling stations were sampled. Arc GIS 10.1 software was utilized to measure the distances between the sited Petroleum Filling Stations and the roads with the help of a computer system. The imagery used was Quickbird (0.5m resolution) and Ikonos (1m resolution). The age ranges between 2015 and 2018. The Software used was ESRI ArcGIS 10.3, GIS Software. It has a measuring tool which was used to measure the distance. The Imagery were added using the ‘Add’ tool. It was then displayed (re-projected) on Projected Coordinate System (UTM, WGS 1984, Zone 32) for accuracy. It was found that the overall level of compliance to land space/size and setback standards is 44.1 percent across the filling stations in Anambra State. That is to say that only 44.1 percent of the PFSs in Anambra State complied with the land space/size and setback standards of building filling stations. Also that there is significant difference between the distances of the filling stations sampled from the road and the set standards for setback. The study thus recommends that: the law should empower the planning officer(s) to prosecute all cases of illegal developments and plans by non-planners without the planners approval should be subjected to prosecution as well. There is great need for public participation as the owners of these lands can join hands to say that a wrongly sited structure cannot be. Campaign should be mounted to conscientize the filling station owners and other developers of the dangers of non-compliance to set standards. Open punishment should be given to all defaulters to the set standards and corrupt officials of the enforcement agencies/bodies for others to learn their lessons. Finally, there should be proper planning to accommodate future expansion of roads. Description: Scholarly Work

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Food Crops Grown In Crude Oil Impacted Soils in Olomoro, Delta State-Nigeria and Their Health Implications

2014-03-03T00:00:00Z

Title: Heavy Metal Concentrations in Food Crops Grown In Crude Oil Impacted Soils in Olomoro, Delta State-Nigeria and Their Health Implications Authors: Okoye, Chinedu; Okwute, Gloria, A Abstract: This research examines the heavy metal concentrations in crude-oil impacted soil (site 1) and un-impacted soils (site 2), in Olomoro, an oil producing community in Delta state. It also examines heavy metal concentrations in cassava tubers (cortex) and in plantain fruits (mesocarp) grown and harvested at both sites and the health implications of consuming these food crops. Heavy metal concentrations of soils pooled from both sites were compared. Results showed higher values of Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn at site 1 than site 2, indicating that there is significant difference between both soils (p<0.05). Food crops grown and harvested from both sites were also compared, and results showed higher values in crops harvested at site 1 than those harvested at site 2, indicating a significant difference between food crops grown and harvested from both sites (p<0.05). Crops harvested from site 1 were compared with WHO acceptable limits for food and results showed that only Pb was above permissible limits (0.30mg/kg). Zn and Pb showed high accumulation in both food crops suggesting that there is a likely possibility of Zn and Pb poisoning if contaminated food crops are ingested. Research methods also involved the use of two structured questionnaire. The first questionnaire examined 130 households with 10 numbers of items to identify the common diseases experienced in households among others, while the second questionnaire administered to medical personnel showed the degree of prevalence of these common diseases. Common ailments experienced by household members were acute headache, body pain, stomach disorder, nausea/ vomiting and dizziness (acute symptoms of Pb and Zn poisoning) which were reported to be prevalently high among the people, while cancer, bone malformation in children, mental illness and depression (chronic symptoms) were not as prevalent as the acute symptoms of Pb and Zn toxicity mentioned earlier. The paper recommends among others that agricultural activities be carried out 5km away from petroleum activities/ oil spill sites and that public awareness and enlightenment be done in rural areas to warn the people about the dangers of consuming contaminated food crops and the associated health implications, since most of the populace are illiterates. Description: Scholarly Work

Comparative assessment of proximate content and organoleptic quality of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) processed by smoking and solar drying methods

2017-09-21T00:00:00Z

Title: Comparative assessment of proximate content and organoleptic quality of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) processed by smoking and solar drying methods Authors: Okoye, Chinedu Abstract: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of two processing methods (smoking and solar drying) on the proximate content, organoleptic characteristics and nutritional qualities of Clarias gariepinus. The moisture content of the smoked fish sample was lower (8.10%) than that of the sun dried sample (25.00%). The crude protein, carbohydrate, fat, ash, crude fibre and nitrogen free extract of the smoked fish sample were 67.20, 1.75, 13.20, 5.50, 3.68 and 2.32%, respectively, compared to 52.50, 4.07, 17.40, 11.40, 2.00 and 18.30% observed in the sun-dried fish, respectively. Mean scores of organoleptic evaluation showed that both processed fish products were preferred (≥ 7.00) by the trained panellists. However, there was significant difference (p<0.05) between the two processed fish products in terms of organoleptic assessment. Smoked fish had better flavour, taste, texture and general acceptability than the solar-dried fish as revealed by the panellists. With better reduction in moisture content and higher protein content observed in fish subjected to smoking, it is concluded that smoking is better than solar drying in the processing of C. gariepinus. Description: Scholarly Work