ENEMS MICROSYSTEMS RESEARCH SPOT: January 16

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Monday, 16 January 2023

STABILIZATION OF BLACK COTTON SOIL WITH GROUNDNUT SHELL ASH USING BRITISH STANDARD LIGHT COMPACTION ENERGY

STABILIZATION OF BLACK COTTON SOIL WITH GROUNDNUT SHELL ASH USING BRITISH STANDARD LIGHT COMPACTION ENERGY

ABSTRACT

The study is a potential stabilization of black cotton soils in Gombe state using Groundnut Shell ash. Index properties of the natural soil showed that, the soil belongs to A-7-6 in AASHTO classification system and CH in USCS classification system. This indicate a poor soil for engineering use. Liquid limit and Plasticity index values of 83.36 % and 89.32 % respectively for the natural soil suggest that the soil is highly pastic. There was gradual decrease in the free swell to a minimum value of 2.91% at 10% GSA as compared to the natural value of 15.25%. The soaked CBR for the natural soil is 1.67% which increased to 2.17% at 10% GSA. This value fell short of specification requirement of the CBR value to be used as sub-base or base material. For the electrokinetic test, pH test, considerable increase to a peak value of 9.2 while the peak CEC is 70.50mol/kg at 0% GSA. The durability of samples determined in terms of resistance to lost in strength failed to meet the 80% resistance to loss in strength. This concludes that the groundnut shell ash cannot be used as stabilization for black cotton soil as stated by Stephen (2006) However, there was increase in strength for UCS of 21 days curing period from a value of 134kN/m² as compared to 313kN/m² for the unstabilized soil.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 PREAMBLE

Generally, lands with Black Cotton soils are fertile and very good for agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and aquaculture. Good irrigation systems exist, rainfall is high and people are affluent in these areas. Though black cotton soils are very good for agricultural purposes, they are not so good for laying durable roads. Good road network is a basic requirement for the all round development of an area. Unfortunately, poor road network is hampering the full fledged development of the otherwise prosperous areas. (Bhavanna Rao, 2005).

Application of solid waste (Groundnut Shell Ash) disposal for soil stabilization is a significant which serves various benefits to the environment. The term solid waste includes all those solid and semi solid materials that are discarded by the community. Improper management of solid waste causes adverse effects on ecology which may lead to possible outbreaks of diseases and epidemics. The over dependence on industrially manufactured soil improving additives (cement, lime etc) have kept the cost of construction of stabilized road financially high. This hitherto have continued to deter the underdeveloped and poor nations of the world from providing accessible roads to meet the need of their rural dwellers who constitute large percentage of their population which are mostly rural farmers. Furthermore, the World Bank has been expending substantial amount of money on research aimed at harnessing industrial waste products for further usage. (Oriola and Moses 2010).

Black cotton soils are expansive clays with potential for shrinking or swelling under changing moisture condition. The soils are formed under conditions of poor drainage from basic rocks or limestones under alternating wet or dry climatic conditions. They usually exhibit high shrink-swell characteristics with surface cracks, opening during the dry seasons which are more than 50mm or more wide and several mm deep. These cracks close during the wet season and an uneven soil surface is produced by irregular swelling and heaving. Such soils are especially troublesome as pavement sub-grades. (Osinubi, 1997)

Groundnut Shell is an agricultural waste obtained from milling of groundnut. In the world, the total hectare planted to groundnut is over 20 million hectares per year. It is estimated that over 2 million hectares are planted on groundnut in Nigeria. Groundnuts are mostly intercropped. Groundnut contains about 25% Protein and 45 to 50 % oil. The skins are high in Vitamin B. Groundnut can be decorticated by hand-operated decorticating machine. (NAERLS, 2009)

In this work, an exercise is done to utilize groundnut shell ash (GSA) to improve the engineering performance of Black Cotton soil which may be an economical solution of soil stabilization.

1.2 Justification of the Research

In Nigeria, and the world at large; the cost of constructing stabilized roads is financially high. This is apparently due to the over dependence on industrially manufactured soil improving additives (cement, lime etc). The high amount of money spent has continued to invalidate poor and underdeveloped nations of the world from making accessible roads available to meet the standard of their rural dwellers that constitute large percentage of their population. On the other hand, the safe disposal of waste products from industries and agriculture has been hitherto a challenging issue demanding urgent solution because of the decline effect of these materials on the environment and the hazardous risk it pose to the health of humanity.

Thus, it is greatly required to consider the use of agricultural waste (such as Groundnut Shell Ash- GSA ) in improving the engineering properties of the soil, in this case Black Cotton soil (BCS) when used in road construction will considerably reduce the cost of construction and as well as eradicate or reduce the environmental and hazardous risk of such wastes. Hence, this research is justifiable in the use of Groundnut Shell ash to stabilized Black Cotton soil.

1.3 AIM OF RESEARCH

This research is aimed at evaluating the possibility of utilizing groundnut shell ash (GSA) in the stabilization of black cotton soils.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH

The following objectives are devised for this research work and are summarized below.

To investigate the pozzolanic properties of Groundnut Shell Ash.
To examine the physical and engineering properties of black cotton soil treated with various percentage of Groundnut Shell Ash (0% – 10%) using British Standard Light compactive effort.
To contrast between the engineering properties of natural black cotton soil and engineering properties of the treated soil.
To investigate the electrokinetic properties of virgin BCS treated with GSA
To carry out durability and strength assessment tests on natural and treated BCS

1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE RESEARCH STUDY

This research is focused on stabilizing black cotton soil treated with various percentage of Groundnut Shell Ash (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10% by dry weight of soil). All these tests are carried out at their respective Optimum Moisture Content limited to British Standard Light Compactive effort.

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ARABLE CROPS RICE AND MAIZE USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK

EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON ARABLE CROPS RICE AND MAIZE USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK

ABSTRACT

This study examines the effect of climate change on arable crops; rice and maize using artificial neural network. The study revealed that there is a relationship between climate change and the yields of rice and maize. Unfavorable climatic conditions or climate change impacted negatively on grain yields; if there is drought, excessive temperature, and low rainfall there will be a decline in yield resulting to a decline in productivity as well. Therefore, it was inferred that climate change has a great effect on arable crops yields in Nigeria and the world at large. On the premise of result obtained in this study, it is recommended that the government should understand that there is a great loss of crop yield as a result of climate change and should help the crop farmers with effective adaptation strategies such as providing irrigation facilities to cope with the challenges of inadequate rainfall. There is also a need for better policies and investments on infrastructure to facilitate technology adoption and adaptation. These include investments on irrigation, roads, storage facilities and improved access to markets. Extension agent should provide vital information on crop varieties with increased tolerance to climate change and other climate-smart agricultural practices that will enable farmers mitigate against climate change.

CHAPTER ONEINTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDYAgriculture is an economic activity that produces food necessary for human livelihood and it is highly dependent upon weather and climate; however, agriculture is also likely to be very vulnerable to climate variability and change. Agriculture constitutes the principal livelihood for 70 percent of the poor throughout the world, many of the poor and hungry being smallholder farmers, herders, fishermen and forest-dwellers, as well as indigenous people living in climate sensitive and vulnerable areas (Feldstein, 2017). Climate change is a widespread challenge affecting many parts of the world (Feldstein, 2017). This changes will not occur without marked impacts upon various sectors of our environment, and consequently of our society (Elum and Momodu, 2017). The changes in climate will appear and will have an important impact on land suitability and in particular, for rainfed crop production. Climate change has raised much concern regarding its impacts on future global agricultural production, varying by region, time, and socio-economic development path (Zoellick and Robert, 2018).Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change and higher temperatures eventually reduce crop yields without discouraging weed, disease and pest challenges. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-term crop failures and long-term declines in production (Ceccarelli, et al., 2020) Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impact of climate change on agriculture is expected to be negative, threatening global food security (Nelson et al., 2019). Food insecurity would probably increase under climate change, unless early warning systems and development programmes are used more effectively (Brown & Funk 2008). Currently, millions of hungry people subsist on what they produce. If climate change reduces production while populations increase, there is likely to be more hunger. Lobellet al. (2018) showed that increasing temperatures and declining precipitation over semi-arid regions are likely to reduce yields of maize, wheat, rice and other primary crops in the next two decades. Even though climate change is one of the major current global concerns, it is not new. Several climate changes have occurred before, with dramatic consequences. Among them is the decrease in CO₂ content, which took place 350 million years ago and which is considered to be responsible for the appearance of leaves, the first plants were leafless and it took 40–50 million years for leaves to appear (Lobellet al., 2018). Relatively scarcity of land resources for agriculture and insufficient food security of the world’s population require that the land be used in an optimum way in the context of climate change. With the increase of demand for arable crops such as rice and maize and the crunching effects of climate change on their production, it has become more important as people strive to make better use of the available methods to increase yields(Lobellet al., 2018).. Artificial intelligence or Artificial Neural Network is the development of software that combines problem-solving and decision-making to achieve goals through replicating the process of ‘sense, decide and act’. It is developed to be used by computers and machines (Alen, 2016). Among other definitions, Machine Learning (ML) is defined as the scientific field that gives machines the ability to learn without being strictly programmed (Samuel, 2019). Artificial intelligence uses machine learning algorithm in which the system generates some adaptive learning approaches in order to achieve some goal of environment, artificial intelligence is a vast field comprising large areas like logical reasoning, computation, and probability. Arable crop breeding such as rice and maize can employ the use of Artificial Intelligence to address climate change-related stakes by; helping enable farmers to avoid crop losses related to climate change to the degree that it results in crop varieties that are more resilient to the effects of climate change and helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by preventing further land conversion to agriculture Glaszmann (2015). Climate changes are predicted to have adverse impacts on food production, food quality (Atkinson et al., 2008) and food security. One of the most recent predictions is that the number of undernourished people would have increased by 150% in the Middle East and North Africa and by 300% in sub-Saharan Africa by the year 2080, compared to 1990 as such this review will substantively outline and elucidate the importance of Artificial Neural Network in breeding with the aim of combating climate change through state of the art tools, applications, and techniques. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMClimate change are the main causes of stress on food production and availability. Depending on the level of development, roughly 20 to 80 percent of the inter-annual variability of yields is caused by the changes in weather and 5 to 10 percent of national agricultural production is lost annually due to climate. Chronic losses and indirect negative effects (i.e. diseases, pests…) exceed by far the effects of extreme (i.e. statistically rare) climatic events. In fact, production losses due to pests, diseases and weeds are estimated at 26 to 30 percent for sugar beet, barley, soybean, wheat and cotton, and 35, 39 and 40 percent for maize, potatoes and rice, respectively (Obrist, 2016). Post-harvest losses are also of the same order of magnitude. Nevertheless, agricultural productivity in Africa falls far behind standards in the developed world. Over 90 percent of agriculture depends on rainfall without the aid of artificial irrigation. Only 5 percent of the cultivated land in Africa is irrigated and the majority of the farmers depend on rainfall, while in Asia, 38 percent of the arable land is irrigated. The techniques used to cultivate soil in Africa still fall far behind those that have been adopted in Asia and the Americas because of the lack of the benefits of irrigation, fertilisers, pesticides and access to high-yield seeds as well. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change and higher temperatures eventually reduce crop yields without discouraging weed, disease and pest challenges. Changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-term crop failures and long-term declines in production Ceccarelli (2010). Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impact of climate change on agriculture is expected to be negative, threatening global food security (Nelson et al., 2019). Food insecurity would probably increase under climate change, unless early warning systems and development programmes are used more effectively (Nelson et al., 2019). It is against this problems that this study seek to examine the effect of climate change on arable crops; rice and maize using artificial neural network. 1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The objective of this study is to examine the effect of climate change on arable crops; rice and maize using artificial neural network. The specific objectives of the study is to: i. Identify the causes of climate changeii. Determine the effect of climate change on arable crops production such as rice and maize iii. To ascertain how the effect of climate change can be combated using artificial neural network 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION 1. What are the causes of climate change 2. What are the effects of climate change on arable crop production? 3. How can the effect of climate change on crop production be combated using artificial neural network? 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The use artificial Intelligence (Artificial Neural Network) in agriculture has the potential to deliver much-needed solution. AI- based technological solutions has enabled the farmers to produce more output with less input and even improved the quality of output, also ensuring faster go-to- market for the yielded crops. The findings of this study on the effect of climate change on arable crops; rice and maize using artificial neural network will serve as an opener to farmers, government, policy makers and the general public on the effects of climate change on the available of arable crops such as maize and rice. It will enlighten them on how to use artificial intelligence in agricultural practice or arable crop production in particular to combat the effects of climate change on food security. 1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDYThe scope of this study is limited to the effect of climate change on arable crops such as rice and maize using artificial neural network. The study will be based on how rainfall and temperature affects the production of arable crops (Rice and Maize) in Nigeria and Nasarawa state in particular.In the course of carrying out this research, the following problems were faced which posed some limitations to the study: 1. Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).2. Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work. 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS Climate Change: Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.Arable Crops: Arable crops are crops that complete their life cycle, from germination to seed production, within one year. There are various types of arable crops depending on the type of their use. These include crops such as maize, rice, millet, lentil, beans, peas etc.Artificial Neural Network: Artificial neural networks, usually simply called neural networks is a computing system made up of a number of simple, highly interconnected processing elements, which process information by their dynamic state response to external inputs.

AN ASSESSMENT OF LAND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN ABUJA

AN ASSESSMENT OF LAND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES IN ABUJA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Land is a scarce resource that supplies food, housing, and safety to the world’s inhabitants. Its efficient management is required not only to meet basic human requirements, but also to make people’s lives more connected, comfortable, and profitable. Better towns, well and more effectively placed infrastructure and utilities, secure and fair land rights for all, including women and indigenous peoples, fewer dispute of land, and higher economic stability and growth are all benefits of competent land management.

Land management systems are made up of textual records that specify rights and/or information, as well as geographical records that define the scope of those rights and/or information. They are fundamental tools for land management that work within the confines of land policy and the legal, social, and environmental context of a given jurisdiction. Land management systems are critical for promoting economic growth, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability. Any government aspiring to greater heights in economic development, among other things, must consider making reforms to its land administration system.

Land management and administration has a significant influence on the development, economy, and civil society, and is one of the modern society’s supports. Although states are the most important stakeholders in land administration, there are others who represent corporations and private individuals. The primary land administration function is to manage data about real estate ownership and to provide that data to interested parties upon request. The Land Administration System is used for land administration (LAS). LAS primarily collects information about real estate, such as its position, ownership, value, and use, as well as physical, geographical, and topographic information, legal data refers to information on a property’s location, ownership, value, and use, and it is kept in a land register. As a result, the approach that will ensure fair allocation, distribution, and redistribution of land in an efficient and effective manner is becoming increasingly complex, posing a challenge to land administration and management systems, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria.

In Nigeria, the debate has continued to rage as to the domicile of ownership within the land management arrangement in the country, particularly with promulgation of the Land Use Act in 1978. There is dichotomy among scholars, jurist and stakeholders as to where ownership lies in land matters; that is, whether it is in the State or in the individual citizen. Though it has been said that; ‘ownership of land per se is irrelevant, it is however incontestable that ownership of land confers indelible rights and opportunities of the holders of the ownership rights. With respect to land, ownership refers to the right of the owner of land to possess, use, or otherwise benefits from, as well as disposes of, the land (Qin, 1994). It is the largest right that can exist in land. Ownership vests in the claimant an immediate or mediate right to possession of land that is not restricted or curtailed by any superior right vesting in another person (Olawoye, 1974).

Land management is focused on implementing decisions that have been made on the use of land resources geared toward ensuring regulatory and supervisory role between land administration and land policy. Terrafrica (2005) defined land management as “the adoption of land use systems that, through appropriate management practices, enable land users to maximize the economic and social benefits from the land, while maintaining or enhancing the ecological support functions of the land resources”. Land management can be seen to play a coordinating role between land policy and land administration. Its objectives are to fulfill the environmental, economic, and social goals of land policy by planning, promoting and controlling efficient land use through the process of land administration. According to Dale and Mclaughlin, (1988), it is important to note that, diverse methodologies utilized in explaining the synergy connecting “land management, policies and administration” do exist, as land management is seen to incorporate land administration and land policy. An effective land management system ensures that the land administration tools such as land registration and valuation, cadastre, land use information system are properly handled so as to ensure the appropriate implementation of the various land policy instruments ranging from improving land tenure security, regulation of land market, etc. to land taxation and land use planning and control. As such land management is strategized toward ensuring sustainability towards social equality, economic development and environmental protection in order to solve the problems of land inaccessibility. It is against this background that this study seek to assess land management challenges in Abuja.

1.2 Statement of the Problems

Prior to the promulgation of the Land Use Decree of 1978 in Nigeria, there were no uniform land management and administration system. In Nigeria, land was communally owned and vacant plots were allocated by the Chief or the Emir in whom the land was vested. No individual had absolute title to land. The traditional ruler held all land in trust for the use of the whole community. In Southern Nigeria, a kind of dualism existed in the ownership and control of land in which some parts or the land in a community were owned by individual families and others reserved for grazing, hunting, civic use etc. was held in trust for the community and administered by the traditional-ruler the Oba. The decree, among other things, puts all land in urban areas under the control and management of the governor of each state and all other land under the Local Government in which the land is situated. The governor working through the Land Use and Allocation Committee has the power to grant statutory rights of occupancy to any person for all purposes while the Local Government working through Land Allocation Advisory Committee has the power to grant customary rights of occupancy. It is against this background that success or failure of land reforms and administration can be evaluated. Observations in many countries, especially the developing countries, have shown the lofty objectives of land administration instruments, such as Nigeria’s Land Use Decree, are hardly achieved. Only in few countries are modest achievements made. Farvacque and McAuslan (1992) have identified, in their comprehensive study, a number of problems militating against successful land management policies, these are: Over centralization of management and administration, Inappropriate, over detailed and inflexible regulatory and legal frameworks, lack of inappropriate use of resources and political will to tackle problems, administrative systems lacking in efficiency, equity, accountability and probity, and failure or reluctance to encourage participation from the urban poor.Abuja, the federal capital territory is face with a lot of challenges in the management of land especially in the area of plot allocation and compliance with the Abuja Master Plan. It in the light of the above that this study seek to assess land management challenges in Abuja.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of this study is to carryout an assessment of land management challenges in Abuja with the view of ascertaining its effects on socio-economic activities of the residence of Federal Capital Territory.

Objectives
1. To identify methods of land acquisition in Abuja.
1. Ascertain the produces or method of land management in the study area
1. To determine the problems associated with land management in the study area.

1.4 Research Questions

What are the methods of land acquisition in Abuja?
What are the procedures or methods method land management in the study area?
What are the associated problems of land management in Maiduguri metropolis?

1.5 Justification of study

The difficulty of accessibility of land by the average Nigerian justifies the need of this study. It is believed that the results of this research will be of great importance to aspiring land owners and property developers, the government, land officers in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, and members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The scope of this study is limited to the appraisal of mismanagement of land in Maiduguri metropolis, this is to enable the researcher carried out an in-depth study at a manageable level.
The following are the limitations which may have likely affected the comprehensive and adequacy of the findings of the study:

Lack of accessibility to the master plan AbujaMetropolics.
There is limitation to documents on the number of approved development and non approved development at local development. This would have enable to know the number of properties that complied with master plan if there any.
There is inadequate transportation facilities which would enable the researcher to access the outer peri-urban to gather more information

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Land: Land is the part of the earth surface that is not covered by water, as opposed to the sea or the air.
Problems: These refer to difficulties an individual faces, come across or encounter while searching for land.
Land Administration: is a system comprising of sub-system that actualizes strategies to implement land policy and other. Land Administration is the way in which the rules of land tenure are applied and made operational.

THE IMPACT OF POOR ROAD NETWORK ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE

THE IMPACT OF POOR ROAD NETWORK ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUE

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Transportation, the movement and exchange of people, goods and services is an obligatory feature of modern life (Umoren et al., 2009) because of its multi-dimensional functions and importance keeping relations and making integrations among every aspect of a society ranging from an individual to a nation. Road that act as key for transportation of people and materials from one place to another have spread like veins and arteries throughout the country and brought substantial development (Badigar and Badigar, 2003). The improvement of transportation through road networks between any two points leads to increasing regional specialization, reducing the transport costs, improved property value etc.Road networks are observed in terms of its components of accessibility, connectivity, and traffic density, level of service, compactness and density of particular roads. Access to major roads provides relative advantages consequent upon which residential properties are located to enjoy the advantages.

Roads may be classified as international, inter-city or intra-city. International and inter-city roads are usually major or arterial roads, while intra-city roads are routes within a city and may be minor or major (arterial). The pattern of road network somewhat influences ease of movements and provides accessibility to various land uses which compete for available spaces along the roads network. Properties tend to cluster along such roads to take relative advantages of agglomeration. Also, competition makes locations along the road to be at their highest and best use translating in high rental values compared to other locations lacking such competition.

Road construction is a socio–economic activity in most urban centers, it is long narrow piece of ground specially prepared with a hard level surface for people, vehicles to travel upon a greater part of the nation’s resources since 1941 had been spent in general development such as construction work, provision of water, telephone and development of road network. Since that period, road construction has become one of the most important considerable infrastructures in any locality within Nigeria. This is because accessibility provides conveniences in transporting people and conveying goods from one place to another. Good road network leads to communication between one locality and another, therefore, in any locality where there is good accessibility; there will be positive changes in physical appearance and economic activities which will result to appreciation of property values (Oni, 2015).

The opportunities open as a result of good road network leads to improvement in the general activities of people which facilitate business activities and provide links between neighboring areas. Transportation and property are important in physical and economic development of towns and cities all over the world. Property and land values tend to increase in areas with expanding transportation networks and road infrastructure, and increase less rapidly in areas without such improvements, rapid and continued rise in housing and prices are expected in cities with road transportation network improvements and rapid economic and population growth (Gold Berg, 1970) man, nations, town regions and the world itself would be severely limited in development without road network transformational, which is a key factor for physical and economic growth (Oyesiku, 2002).

According to Bailey, Mokhtarian and Littlell (2008), Transportation route is part of distinct development blue print of any urban area in the world at present. The road network coupled with increased transportation, investment result in changed levels of accessibility reflected through cost benefit analysis, savings in travel time line and other benefits. These benefits are noticeable in increased catchments areas for service and facilities like shops, petrol filling station, hotel, schools, offices, banks, and leisure activities (Grass, 1992).

Road networks are observed in terms of its components of accessibility and traffic density and it control the level of service, compactness and density of particular roads. The level of service is measured by the quality of service on transportation devices or infrastructure is determined and it is a holistic approach considering several factors regarded as measures of traffic density. Modern businesses, industries, trades and general activities depend on transport and transport infrastructure, with movement of goods and services from one place to another becoming vital and unspeakable aspects of global and urban economic survival (growth). The study area is a typical example in the history of growth and development of city with improved road networks and road infrastructure developed to cater for increase in concentration of commercial activities, pedestrian and vehicular movements (Hack,2002). Similarly, commercial activities like retail, wholesale business, has attracted consumers and ancillary service providers. This partly caused increase in demand for residential space and its effects on residential property values along roads in the study area. There has been increase in rental values of residential properties along the road although not all equal rates in all areas. This research analysed the provision of road network in the residential neighbourhood of Nasarawa town on rental value.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The urban areas all over the world offer a number of advantages in terms of concentration of people followed by demand for residential properties and transportation. Construction of roads increased substantially with the opening up of residential area that also benefited from increasing demand for lettable spaces in residential properties. Many private companies, retail stores, commercial banks aggregate in the metropolis to take advantage of opportunities afforded by locations along the road network attracting complimentary services. This led to high concentration of vehicular and pedestrian movements especially along the access roads. Accessibility within the road network is affected by the compact nature of various routes that sometimes impede volume of traffic. The road network is made up of nodal points and links that determine the degree of connectivity and accessibility in the network. This connectivity is among the number of factors affect values of properties thus, this project seek to analyse the provision of road network in the residential neighbourhood of Nasarawa town.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to analyze the provision of road network in the residential neighbourhood of Nasarawa town on rental values.

To achieve this aim, following specific objectives shall be pursued.

To assess the existing road network in Nasarawa town.
To examine the state of the available road network in the study area.
To determine the extent to which road network affects residential property values.
To evaluate the relationship between residential property and road network in the study area.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions will guide the researcher towards achieving the set aim and objectives of the study.

Is there existing road network in Nasarawa town?
What is the state of the available road network in the study area?
To what extent does road network affects residential property values?
What is the relationship between residential property rental value and road network in the study area?

HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no significant relationship between rental values of residential property and road network in Nasarawa town

H1: There is significant relationship between rental values of residential property and road network in Nasarawa town

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study focuses on the analysis of the provision of road network in the residential neighbourhood of Nasarawa town. This finding of this research will encourage government to provide good road network as it has positive impact on quality of life and residential property values.

The greater the accessibility of a location the comparative advantage to residential property users, and the greater the comparative advantages to the demand for more property in the study area and finally this research will also serve as a requirement for the award of Higher National Diploma (HND).

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This research is confined to the study of the analysis of the provision of road network in the residential neighbourhood of Nasarawa. The scope of the study will be limited tNasarawa town of Nasarawa state and it will also be limited to identifying the nature and state of available road network in the study area.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Road: The Concise Oxford Dictionary defined road as specially prepared truck between places for the use of pedestrian, rivers and vehicles. It could also be a long narrow piece of ground especially prepared with a hard level surface for people, vehicles etc.

Road Network: Road construction is defined by Lord Hale to be open passage of bring, which from the situation of the adjacent land, and its own depth and wideness with nodal link and connectivity, afford a secure place for the common ridding and anchoring of vehicles for human and goods. Zangandlund University (2004), sees road network to consists of large number of interwoven roads exhibiting many patterns ranging from star like to grid – like with irregular patterns becoming recognized.

Neighbourhood: A neighbourhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town, suburb or rural area. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members.

Residential Property: Residential property is a building that is used or suitable for use as a dwelling, or is in the process of being constructed or adapted for use as a dwelling; land that forms part of a garden or grounds of a building suitable for use as a dwelling.

Property: Is a legal concept encompassing all the interests, right and benefit related to ownership. Properties consist of the right of ownership which entitle the owner to a specific interest or interest in what is a physical entity and its ownership Olusegun (2003).

Rental Value: As the rent which is an annual or periodic payment of money for the use of land or of land and building, rental value is the highest rent obtainable for a property in an open market at any given time Olusegun (2003).

1.9 THE STUDY AREA

Nasarawa Emirate in Nasarawa State is located in the Central region of Nigeria. It is flanked by Keffi and the Federal Capital to the North. To the South, it is bounded by Benue River and to the west; it bordered the present Gadabuka and Toto Local government area which are of course, part of the Emirate. To the East, it is bordered by Doma, Lafia and Keana Local Government Areas all of Nasarawa State.

Physical Characteristics: The major things considered under physical characteristics of Nasarawa are, geographical location, temperature, rainfall, geology, wind, vegetation, humidity, soil.

Temperature: The temperatures are generally high during the day, particularly between the months of March and April. The main monthly temperatures in the state range between 20⁰C and 34⁰C with the hottest months being March/April and the coolest months being December/January.

Rainfall: The study area experience dry season without or little’s rainfall from November to March of about 95mm, which is wet season is from April to October of about 1.30mm,

Geology: From the Jos Plateau, this comprises of basement complex metamorphic rocks, granite and basalt of two or more ages. The basement complex is covered by shadow soil.

WIND: Nasarawa local government is determined by the seasonal movement on inter-tropical convergence zone [ITCZ], which represents the moving frontier between the moist Atlantic air from the south and the dry air from the north. In the dry season from November till March the north east wind are dominant. For the remaining of the year, the south-western winds are prevailing. Generally, the wind velocity is relatively low.

VEGETATION

Nasarawa is situated in the Benue valley between the Benue river and Jos Plateau. This area lies within the part of southern guinea savannah. The vegetation of Nasarawa has, to a large extent resulted from extensive agricultural use of the land, the predominant vegetation type is partly savannah which is characterized by a discontinuous canopy, shrubs and grasses many areas are affected by man through bush burning during the dry season. Among the common trees are oil bean trees, locust bean free and isoberline trees.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

The relative humidity is the measurement of deepness of the atmosphere which varies from place to place and different time of the day. The level of humidity in Nasarawa state in January is quite less that 40% which rises as from February to July to about 88%. By April when the steady rain commences it will be about 75% by August when the inter-tropical discontinuity is at it northern part, must position of the entire state will experience tropical marine wind and continues till December.

SOIL

The major soil units of Nasarawa belong to the category of oxisols or tropical ferruginous soils. The soils are derived mainly from the basement complex and old sedimentary rocks. Lateritic crust occurs in extensive areas on the plains while hydro orphic soils (limbic incept sols) occur along the flood plains of major rivers (Nyangba, 1995).

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS :Nasarawa main economic activity is agriculture; cash crop, such as yam, cassava and egusi (melon). Production of minerals such as salt is also another main economic activity of people in the state; Nasarawa produces a large proportion of the salt consumed in the country.