Rainfall Variations as the Determinant of Malaria in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria

This study highlights the increasing interest in identifying the parameters adequate to measure rainfall and wet day’s variations as the determinant of malaria occurrences and distribution for a period of twelve months (2012) in the Federal Capital Territory. Satellite data were developed to identify malaria risk area and to evaluate amounts of rainfall and the durations of wet or rainy days conducive to malaria outbreaks at appropriate scales. Secondly, the studies examine the correlation of monthly and annual malaria cases, and rainfall amounts, including wet days with a lag time of one year. The result of correlation analysis shows that relationship exists between the observed weather variables and malaria. The coefficients of determination R2 of rainfall influencing malaria is 0.3109 (31.1%) and wet days influencing malaria is 0.3920 (39.2%). These results indicate that the rainfall amounts positively correlate with malaria cases with prediction estimate by 78.47% and 88.68% respectively when the peak was August (rainfall) and June (malaria). The study further shows that a significant rainfall variation was identified, and further revealed that certain necessary measures have to be adequately taken to ensure that the existing malaria problems are dealt with and further occurrence is minimized, if not forestalled all together. It is recommended that more attention should be given to weather and climate mechanism that determines the occurrence and distribution of malaria. Keywords: rainfall, amount, wet day, duration, variation, determinant, malaria, occurrence, distribution, risk map

Assessment of Housing Conditions for a Developing Urban Slum using Geospatial Analysis: A Case Study of Durumi, Garki-2, Gishiri and Jabi of the City of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria

The parameters used for urban slum classification are water source, accessibility types, wall materials, conditions and types of waste disposal, roof and roof trusses types, and cluster nature of the study areas as detected by NigeriaSAT-1 imagery data. Applications of remote sensing are best and better appropriate way to identify slums through the presence of the following features; housing density, structure, and roof composition. However, it was observed that the study areas had been in a condition of virtual slum before 2005. The results of housing conditions classification shows that slums are often associated and characterized by substandard housing structures, poor living conditions, narrow access that do not allow vehicles, experience a high rate of disease, poor water quality, window and door made from substandard material, and  unhealthy disposal of waste. In addition, the geo-statistical analysis also show positive relationship with the slum index; water 0.0536 (5%), solid and liquid waste 0.3707 (37%), wall to the building 0.7594 (76%), roof 0.3253 (33%), toilet wall 0.5313 (53%), kitchen wall 0.6020 (60%), door 0.3191 (32%), window 0.4255 (43%) and accessibility 0.3167 (32%). In the final analysis, it was observed that the methods agree largely with the areas classified as slum or squatter settlement. This conclusion was made based on the results of the housing conditions classifications, statistical analysis and cluster nature of the study areas displayed in palette of Arcmap-10.1 supervised classification. It is recommended that, this classification approach be used for assessing the state of housing conditions in urban slums. Keywords: assessment, housing conditions, urban/city slum, geospatial algorithm

An Assessment of Some Environmental Effects of Squatter Settlement in Dutse Alhaji, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Environment and human activities are omen to development. Bwari Area Council in FCT is one of the areas that require such development drive. The study is required to facilitate this need. This research effort is to examine the environmental effect of squatter settlement in Dutse Alhaji, Bwari Area Council. In view of the above, necessary procedures were selected to accomplish this. Approach includes the development of database and choice of appropriate data sources (primary and secondary data sources). From the methodology, there were questionnaire administration, direct interview of respondents, collection and updating of the base maps, and the use of necessary field instrument for the study. The data gathered were analysed using the descriptive method. These entail the application rank scores to percentage distribution of variables, revealing quality of basic characteristics of the squatter settlement. The end result has revealed a number of environmental problems due to the existence of these settlements (Dutse Alhaji). These problems are soil erosion, gully erosion, poor drainage system, forestation, traffic congestion, noise pollution, illegal refuse dump sites, slum situations, etc. Appropriate recommendations in form of short time and long time solution were suggested to conclude the research work.Key words:Squatter Settlement; Environmental problems; Environmental Effect

Groundwater hydrochemical assessment of the crystalline aquifer of Suleja, North Central Nigeria

This research work aimed at assessing the waste dump impacts on groundwater physic-chemical and biological constituents of Suleja environ. Hydrochemistry and groundwater flow mapping techniques were employed during the field work. After the preliminary survey, seven groundwater samples were collected monthly at different locations within the study area; totaling forty three (43) samples during the dry season (between the months of November, 2015 to April, 2016) for standard water quality laboratory analysis. The data sets obtained from the laboratory were subjected to descriptive statistics and correlation matrix to establish their relationship, including water quality index were calculated. The hydrochemical results revealed high mean concentrations of conductivity followed by total hardness, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, temperature and pH (Conductivity > TH > TDS > Alk > Temp. > pH). The minor ionic distributions revealed higher mean concentrations of Sulphate followed by chloride, bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, and nitrate ions (SO4 > Cl- > HCO3 > CO2 > NO3). The major ionic parametric mean concentrations revealed higher value of calcium followed by magnesium, sodium and potassium ions (Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+). The heavy metals ions revealed higher mean concentrations of iron followed by zinc, manganese, and copper during the dry season. The elevated values of chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand observed indicate presence of organic compounds in the groundwater of some area. The observed wide range of standard deviation and variance in some of the parameters are indications that there is substantial difference in the groundwater chemistry within the study area. Hydrochemical result depict high level of average concentration of temperature, sulphate (SO4), iron (Fe2+) and total hardness (TH) to have range above their standard permissible limit for drinking or domestic purposes water quality (WHO and NSDWQ). Though there are other ionic compounds that show low average level of its content but high level of maximum concentrations such as chloride, COD and BOD. The WQI value for dry seasons is 4.89 which indicate that the groundwater in the area is excellent in quality. Correlation matrix revealed positive relationship between pH, TH (total hardness), SO4, NO3, Cl-, Mg2+ and Ca2+ and positive connectivity between Na+ and K+. All this suggest that major sources of the solute for the groundwater enrichment are from weathering of lithological framework and anthropogenic activities essentially. Groundwater flow mapping revealed that the groundwater of Suleja vicinity is structurally controlled and it equally shows somewhat possibility of high potential of groundwater aquifer which make it suitable for groundwater borehole development.Keywords: Hydrochemistry, Hydrogeology, Water quality Index, Waste dump, Suleja Are