The Application of Frameworks in the Unpacking of the Problematic of Human-Environmental Interaction: The Case of the Qua Iboe River in the Niger Delta of Nigeria (Published)
This paper looks at human-environment interaction (HEI) using the lens of three frameworks- DPSIR, Resilience/ Panarchy and Political Ecology as vehicles for a holistic understanding of the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment. Drawing evidence from the case of the Qua Iboe River in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria as a marine resource, the complexity in the interaction between the local communities, the Federal Government and the oil companies were identified. The result of this interaction is the pollution of the river and the conflict between the stakeholders. It is therefore recommended among others that there is the need for multilayer governance involving all the stakeholders as a baseline for mitigation of the problem.
Keywords: Conflict, DPSIR, Environmental Pollution, Federal government, Niger-Delta, Political Ecology, Qua Iboe River, Resilience, panarchy
Assessment of Uncertainties in the Computation of Atmospheric Correction Parameters for Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+ Thermal Band from Atmospheric Correction Parameter (ATMCORR) Calculator (Published)
This research examines the uncertainties present when computing atmospheric correction parameters (upwelling (Lu) and downwelling (Ld) radiances, and transmittance ( )) for the 9 flaring sites in Rivers State, Nigeria; and to estimate the total uncertainty introduced into the land surface temperature (LST) when they are applied. 7 Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and 7 Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) from 04 March 2000 to 08 August 2012 with < 10 % cloud contamination were considered in order to evaluate a trend. All the sites are located within a single Landsat scene (Path 188, Row 057). Option B of the Atmospheric Correction Parameter (ATMCORR) Calculator was adopted to obtain Lu, Ld and for Landsat scenes analysed. The Lu, Ld and obtained were applied to the calibrated at-sensor radiance band 6 (high gain) data to compute the surface-leaving radiance (Lλ) with the emissivity ( ) of each station estimated by using standard values for determined land surface cover. The Planck equation was inverted using the calibration constants to derive LST. To determine the uncertainties introduced by applying the calculated Lu, Ld and , an uncertainty analysis was undertaken. The difference between the Lu, Ld and interpolated for each study site and that of reference site (Chokocho) were calculated and used for the analysis with 4 Lλ scenarios. The results show that the larger the % of water body at the site, the higher is the uncertainty introduced into LST retrieved from Landsat scene; and that the maximum uncertainty obtained for all sites are below the expected maximum error (0.5 0.8 K). Therefore, it was concluded that ATMCORR Calculator, have the ability to provide an automated method to derive Lu, Ld and needed for generating LST in the Niger Delta.
Keywords: Niger-Delta, atmospheric correction, atmospheric correction parameters (atmcorr) calculator, emissivity, land surface temperature (lst)
Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Vegetation Health across the Nine States of Niger Delta Region of Nigeria Using Landsat and Avhrr/Modis Dataset (Published)
The Niger Delta region of Nigeria since the oil boom era of 1975 has undergone severe eco-environmental alterations associated with negative changes to the natural ecosystem particularly vegetation. This alteration is believed to cause unidentifiable changes in vegetation health, hence, the need for the spatio-temporal assessment of the vegetation health condition of the entire region. Multi-temporal Landsat remote sensing satellite images of 1986, 2002 & 2016 and AVHRR and MODIS dataset were used to generate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by creating a model in ArcGIS software. The generated NDVI results from Landsat disclosed that the general health condition of vegetation in 2002 was less than 1986 and 2016 poorer than 2002. Also, the inter-annual temporal analysis of the NDVI result showed that Years 2007 and 2008 recorded the healthiest vegetation condition while 1994 recorded lowest and monthly temporal analysis result indicated that lower vegetation condition was recorded in February and August while October recorded the highest. The mean NDVI values for each state of the study area revealed that the vegetation condition of the core oil producing states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Delta State were the most stressed as result of heavy alteration of the vegetation due to unwholesome activities of oil exploration/exploiting like gas flaring, oil spillage, pipe line vandalism etc. whereas Ondo, Edo, Abia, Cross River, Abia and Imo state that has not had similar heavy alteration had healthier vegetation condition. This study has proved that the oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the region is really altering the vegetation health condition of the region.
Keywords: AVHRR/MODIS and LANDSAT., Niger-Delta, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)
Mapping of land cover and estimation of their emissivity values for gas flaring sites in the Niger Delta (Published)
This study examines the changes in land cover (LC) types at 6 gas flaring sites in Rivers State, Niger Delta region of Nigeria; and to estimate their emissivity (Ɛ) values. 15 Landsat scenes (3 Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and 12 Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)) from 17 January 1986 to 08 March 2013 with < 30 % cloud contamination were used. All the sites are located within a single Landsat scene (Path 188, Row 057). Radiometric calibration of the multispectral bands of the data, and atmospheric correction for multispectral bands using dark object subtraction (DOS) method was carried out. The first unsupervised cluster analysis of the atmospherically corrected reflectance (bands 1-4) using the K-mean function of the MATLAB tool was carried out. The results obtained give 3 classes of LC type and cloud as the 4th class. The second cluster analysis was performed with the cloud-masked reflectance (bands 1-4) to give vegetation, soil, built up area and water LC types for all flaring sites. This was confirmed through the fieldwork observation for ground validation of Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+ in the Niger Delta that LC types obtained from satellite data are the same with those observed during the fieldwork. The method used to estimate Ɛ value for LC types at these sites is based on the Ɛ of 4 LC types present at each site. The changes in LC differ throughout the period for the 6 sites due to different human activities within each site. The Ɛ values estimated for the 4 LC types for the sites are not stable but changing from 1986 to 2013 due to changes in LC types. The results of LC classification show that K-mean method can distinguish up to 4 LC types very well in the Niger Delta.
Keywords: Estimation, Gas-flaring, Land Cover, Mapping, Niger-Delta, emissivity
CSR for Conflict Resolution in Niger Delta Oil and Gas Industry (Published)
An ethnographic research method that allows for a blend of aspects of qualitative and quantitative investigations was adopted in this study to establish whether both the oil prospecting companies and their host communities have the same view that mutual coexistence between the two parties is very feasible and relatively cheaper via excellent CSR practices by the oil companies. CSR, an acronym that stands for Corporate Social Responsibility, is the persistent commitment by a business organization to ethically behave to contribute maximally to the economic and environmental advancement of the quality of life of its workforce and the society, particularly the host communities. It was hypothesized that excellent CSR practice by the oil companies might be a potent solution to the violent crisis that has unfortunately characterized the relationship between oil prospecting companies and their host, the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta. The effectiveness of seven indicators of CSR as perceived by the oil corporations and the oil-producing areas in the resolution of the brutal conflicts in the Niger Delta were empirically investigated. A large sample of 2,487 was drawn by proportional stratified random sampling technique from the host communities and oil companies for the study. Results showed an overwhelming discrepancy between oil companies’ staff and oil producing areas indigenes for each of the seven CSR indicators. While host communities absolutely or strongly favored adoption of CSR as a viable strategy for ending the crisis and ensuring ultimate peace in the Niger Delta; the staff of oil prospecting companies held a diametrically opposite view. It is therefore recommended very strongly that oil producing companies in the Niger Delta should accord primary attention to excellent CSR practices to guarantee mutual peaceful coexistence and optimum oil production in the Niger Delta Region.
Keywords: CSR, Conflict Resolution, Niger-Delta, Oil Indicators of CSR, Oil and gas industry, Oil prospecting companies
Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination by Artisanal Refining Plants in the Niger Delta Region, Southern Nigeria (Published)
Artisanal refining Plants are common features of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The effects of heavy metal contamination on soil by non-conventional refining plants were investigated and analyzed using standard methods. Two soil samples were collected at 18 m intervals between Plants A and B and at 24 m intervals between Plant B and C. Then control sample was collected 2 km away from unimpacted soil. The result of the analysis showed that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) recorded maximum concentration of 6899.4942 ppm at station C at the depth of 0-15 cm. Furthermore, the concentration of heavy metals investigated are below critical levels as proposed by FEPA (1991) and NCC(1991).
Keywords: Artisanal Plants, Heavy Metal, Hydrocarbon Contaminated, Niger-Delta, Nigeria
PALYNOSTRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE AGBADA FORMATION (NEP-1 WELL) OFFSHORE, EASTERN NIGER-DELTA BASIN, NIGERIA (Published)
Palynological analyses were carried out using 36 composite ditch cutting samples from NEP -1 well, off-shore eastern Niger Delta Nigeria. The interval studied is 1750 meters thick, belonging to the Agbada Formation; lithologically, the section varies from shaly-sand to sandy-shale to shale. Three zonal assemblage schemes have been erected; zone boundaries were placed where significant changes occurred in the abundance of the species, the proposed palynological zones are: Echiperiporites cf. estelae, Psilatricolpites okeizeis and Foeveotricolpites sp. zones; these are correlatable with the pantropical zones. Samples from the section are assigned a late Miocene to early Pliocene age based on the palynological evidences at this site.
Keywords: Agbada, Niger-Delta, Palynomorph, Palynostratigraphy, Stratigraphy