No abstract

This study assessed the status of oil spill induced stress in the vegetation in Lagos and Ogun States, in the South West of Nigeria. The locations of oil spill impacted areas were identified on the field using information from the locals and a Global Positioning System with an accuracy of ± 5m and subsequently identified on the 5 m resolution RapidEye satellite image of 2009 and 2011. Field spectra were collected using Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) Handheld2 Spectrometer. The results showed varying spectral measurement of the impacted and the control. Indices were then used to distinguish less stressed from stressed vegetation which were statistically higher at F-ratio 4.825 (p < 0.01) and 3.194 (p < 0.01) in Lagos State; and 4.564 (p < 0.01) and 2.731 (p < 0.1) in Ogun State. It was concluded that oil spill had changed the spectra characteristics of impacted vegetation.

The spill of oil into the environment threatens the existence of vegetation. This study identified the coastal area of Lagos impacted by oil spill, explosion and fire; using Landsat ETM+2005 and Ikonos 2007 and evaluated the effect. Subsequently, geo-spatial database was created for monitoring of oil pipelines Right of Way (ROW) in the area. The biggest land use land cover changes were the high forest and the light forest classes of mangrove vegetation by 22.2 and 15.5% respectively. The control quadrat sampled had the highest species diversity index of 0.6758 compared to the others. The study concluded that oil spill had affected the land use land cover as well as provided oil spill emergency response centres sites as a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) for oil pipeline management.

Petroleum pipeline network is a critical infrastructure that should be protected because of its importance and the danger of fire disaster and ecosystem disruption if unprotected. However, the procedure for the management of the pipeline in Nigeria is probably faulty, and we think that this accounts for the multiple occurrences of pipeline fires in Nigeria between 1998 and 2007. Our study involves the use of satellite imageries, ecological sampling, questionnaire and personal interaction with some of the victims of the December 2006 pipeline fire in Ilado-Odo community in Lagos State, Nigeria. We attributed the causes of pipeline fires to poor pipeline network monitoring, poor communication and transportation in the vulnerable communities, and the inability of the pipeline management agency to ensure adequate community participation. We found that the biotic and abiotic components of the IladoOdo community were severely impaired, and we think that the impact may last for a long time if there is no postdisaster recovery programme. We conclude that the present method of labour-intensive approach to pipeline monitoring in Nigeria can promote further development of organised crime as explained by the Queer Ladder concept. We therefore recommend better tracking system, enhanced communication and transport infrastructure, as well as the review of the existing right-of-way regulations, and their strict enforcement around all critical infrastructures.

This research sought to investigate the effect of smart Agri-preneurship dimensions on food affordability in South-West, Nigeria. Diverse literature confirmed positions of scholarly discourse regarding the relationship between smart Agri-preneurship dimensions and food affordability. Cross-sectional research design was adopted while adopted questionnaire was used to source primary data. Duly registered Agri-preneurs in South-West Nigeria were selected with a population of (2,557). Cochran, Hatzes, Butler, and Marcy formula (1997) was adopted and a reliable and valid questionnaire was tested on 558 Agri-preneurs. The regressed constructs revealed a positive and significant effect of smart Agri-preneurship on food affordability. The findings indicated that smart Agri-preneurship dimensions have positive and significant effect on food affordability (Adj.R2 = 0.602, F (6,551) = 141.319, p=0.000). The study concludes that farmers should embrace smart Agri-preneurial technologies as innovations that could improve their farm yields, hence reduce the cost of production and make food output more affordable. The study recommends that the government should engage Agri-preneurs and provide partnerships that would be beneficial in improving food affordability opportunities through the adoption of smart technologies.