A SURVEY OF EXTENT OF WATER POLLUTION ON
RIVER OGUN: A CASE STUDY OF RIVER OGUN,
ABEOKUTA.
BY
A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERGRATED
SCIENCE, SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, FEDERAL COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION
ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE
IN PARTIAL FUFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF
NIGERIA CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (N.C.E)
JANUARY, 2015.
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that this project work was carried out by AKINBOWALE TITILAYO
ESTHER. MATRIC NO 11/0952 of the department of integrated science/biology, school
of science, Federal College of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, Ogun state as part of the
requirement for the award of Nigeria certificate in Education (N.C.E) during the
2013/2014 academic year.
______________________
__________________
MR. I.MOHAMMED
DATE
PROJECT SUPERVISOR
______________________
____________________
DR. I.A. MOFIKOYA
HEAD OF DEAPRTMENT
DATE
DEDICATION
This research work is dedicated to the Almighty God, the author and the finisher
of my faith, the beginning and the end, the omnipotent God, the Alpha and Omega, the I
am that I am for giving me the grace and the successful opportunity to complete my
N.C.E programme and the privilege to carry out this project successfully.
It is also dedicated to my lovely and Godly given parent in person of MR and
MRS SAMUEL AKINBOWALE for their financial and moral support. May the
almighty God bless them abundantly.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To God be the glory great things he hath done in my life. Glory, Honour and
Adoration to Almighty God for his mercy and kindness to me since my birth up to this
great opportunity and grace to go through this N.C.E programme successfully in this
college.
My appreciation goes to my supervisor, Mr. I. MOHAMMED who patiently went
through my project work, corrected, adjusted and added where necessary for his fatherly
love, his guidance and his reliable server towards the successful completion of this
project, may God bless him abundantly.
My profound gratitude is expressed to my parents, MR. and MRS.
AKINBOWALE on whose book I learn for both moral parental care and advice and who
have stood by me, may God grant them long life, may they live long to reap the fruits of
their labour.
I am also grateful to my mother Mrs. FLORENCE AKINBOWALE for her
hospitality and moral support and even financially assistance during my academic
pursuit.
My immense gratitude goes to my lovely brothers and sisters, AKINBOWALE
AYOMIDE,
AKINBOWALE
OLUWASEYI,
Mrs.
OLUSANYA
TOSIN
and
HUSBAND and also to Nephew and Nice Taiwo and Kehinde, PAMILERIN.
I appreciate all your efforts and also say a big thanks to my special friend OYEROGBE
ODUNAYO, FOLAKEMI OGUDELE, and SAMUEL, IDOWU OLUWASEUN,
SOMOYE TOSIN MARTINS.
I will be grateful not to appreciate the effort of my entire friend with whom I
shared my moment of happiness within the college and at home especially AFUSAT
SALAMI,
RONKE,
BABATUNDE,
MBAH
LAWAL
CHIOMA,
AZEEZ,
OLUADE,
YETUNDE,
TITILAYO,
EBIRE
ADESHINA
OLUMIDE,
EBIRE
SUNMISOLA, MATANMI HAMMED, OLANIYAN BABATUNDE, GBADAMOSI
HAMMED, i say a big thank you to all and God bless you (Amen).
Finally, my appreciation goes to the church of God A.F.C Oke-Abetu and AFCF
campus fellowship member thanks for your prayers may God bless and guide you all
(Amen).
ABSTRACT
The study engaged the various communities in Abeokuta on the extent of water pollution
on River Ogun. The research work intends to find out about how the River Ogun is been
polluted. The study was limited to five communities in Abeokuta Ogun State. The
instrument used for the collection of data was questionnaire and interview. The data
collected was analysed using simple percentages. It was discovered that the people carry
out their waster/dirty and dump inside the river, that lead to the river being polluted and
affect their health negatively. At the end of this research work, recommendations were
made that Government should effectively and efficiently control river pollution.
Secondly, Government should organise programme that would orientate people to stop
dumping their wastes materials inside river and lastly Government should enforce law
that anybody who pollute river should be severely punished.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the study
The significance of water to human and other biological systems cannot be over
emphasized, and there are numerous scientific and economic fact that, water shortage or
it’s pollution can cause severe decrease in productivity and deaths of living species
(Garba et, al, 2008) Garba et al, 2010. Reports by food and agricultural organisation
(WHO) of USA revealed that in African countries, particularly Nigeria, water related
diseases had been interfering with basic human development (FAO, 2007).
The common sources of water that are available to local communities in Nigeria
are fast being severed by a number of anthropogenic factors, of which pollution remain
the most dominant problem. Water pollution occurs when unwanted materials with
potentials to threaten human and other natural systems find their ways into rivers, lakes,
wells, streams, boreholes or even reserved fresh water in homes and industries. The
pollutants are usually pathogens, silt and suspended solid particles such as soils, sewage
materials, disposed foods, cosmetics, automobile emissions, construction debris and
eroded banks from rivers and other waterways. Some of these pollutants are decomposed
by the action of micro-organisms through oxidation and other processes.
The major problem is the reconcentrations of these harmful substances in natural
food chain (Osuide, 2007). During the decomposition process, natural bacteria and
protozoan in the water sources utilise the oxygen dissolved in the water. This could
significantly reduced the oxygen level to less than two parts per million (2pm), therefore
the respiratory conditions of aquatic species would be seriously affected. Consequently,
fishes, bottom dwelling animals and even marine plants can be contaminated and/or
killed, creating significant disruption in the food chainon the other hand, when this
contaminated water is directly consumed without proper treatment ( a common practice
to local communities), spread of disease such as typhoid, dysentery, cholera, hepatitis etc.
In Nigeria today, research indicates that majority of the common fresh water
sources are pollinated, resulting to serious outbreak of these and other diseases. A study
by (Umeh et, al 2004) showed that 48% of the people in Katsina – Ala local government
area of Benue state are affected by urinary schistosomiasis, due to increased in water
pollution index. Some previous investigations indicate that 19% of the whole Nigerian
population is affected with some communities having up to 50% incidence. This has
raised serious concerns to World Health Organisation in an attempt to improve cultural
and socio-economic standards of people in the tropical region (Okigbo 2008) (Umeh
2007, Umeh et al 2009). Recently, Olaoye and Onilude (2009) have documented varying
levels of microbial contaminations in drinking water from western parts of the country.
Total bacteria and coliform counts were found to be between 2.86 – 4.45 and ≤ 1.62 log
cfu/ml respectively. In addition to microbial infections heavy metals poisoning through
drinking water have also been documented. Nriagu et. at (2010).
Although the demand for fresh water is fast increasing at a rate greater than the
world’s population growth, access to safe water supply is a serious issue across the globe.
Recent statistic indicates that 1.2 and 2.4 billion people suffer from lack of safe water
supply and secure sanitation respectively. (Orubu, 2007).
In many developing countries, Nigeria in particular more than half of the
population is affected. The former constitute the fraction that should ideally be accessible
to all communities. They comprise of water from lakes, hand dug wells, taps, boreholes,
streams, river and their plains, wetlands and those available in underground reservoirs.
Our preliminary survey between 2007 and 2010 indicates that there are many
villages that have never seen the so called “treated tap water” in their communities. The
estimated 140 million people are continuously drinking water containing all kinds of
germs, heavy metals, bacteria and dust particles capable enough to cause various
diseases.
1.2
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The major aim of this particular research includes the following.
i.
To ascertain the effect of river (Ogun) pollution in Abeokuta
ii.
To emphasize on the need to reduce of water (river) pollution in Abeokuta (i.e
for the inhabitants)
iii.
To verify the pollution control methods put in place by the inhabitant under
study
iv.
To make critical recommendations about thus particular topic of the study
v.
To look critically on the solutions that the government can make to control
river (Ogun water majorly Abeokuta) pollution, especially the inhabitant
around it’s route.
1.3
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
For any laws or reform in other to regulate a control measure to be effective it is
noted that high population countered the successive outcome. Some philosophical
thought noted that “health is wealth” some experts also say to maintain a quality
environment it is necessary to limit the growth of the population.
Several records of water pollution outbreak has been noted in history such as
disease outbreak, erosions, flood, contaminated water bodies etc. yet the histories still
repeats itselves from today generation to future generations as a result of in-adequate
implementation of laws and reforms on water pollution control measures.
This project will make some successive improvement to the benefit and
knowledge of mankind who are ready to go through it.
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
In processing (executing) the research, some vital questions may be sited to faster
the study.
The question goes thus;
i.
Is there any link between water pollution (river Ogun) and some disease
outbreak such as; flooding, erosion etc?
ii.
Is there any relationship between river pollution and some health disease?
iii.
What are the disadvantages roles river pollution (Ogun water) play to man
(inhabitants) and its environment?
Can the pollution be reduced or checked without seriously disrupting people’s
iv.
lives?
v.
What are some ways inhabitants works without the government inclusion to
control the pollution?
vi.
Why is water pollution (river) difficult to eliminate?
vii.
Is there any significant ways government can work to effectively and
efficiently control the river pollution?
viii.
Is there any evidence from the health service (hospital) on any diseases caused
by river pollution (water) by infected peoples (patient)?
1.5
HYPOTHESIS ON RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Hypo I: There is a link between water pollution (river Ogun) and some disease
outbreak such as: erosion, flooding etc.
Hypo II: Water pollution (river) is very difficult to eliminate.
Hypo III: There is a significant ways government can work to effectively and
efficiently control the river pollution.
1.6
DELIMITATIONS
This study is delimited to Abeokuta north local government area located at the
Egba senatorial district of Ogun state. She is bounded at north by Ewekoro local
government, south by Odeda local government, at the west by Abeokuta south and east
by Yewa north local government, the area covered by the researcher were the
neighboring inhabitants area of the river (Ogun) route i.e Abule-otun, Lafenwa,
Iberekodo, Ago-ika, Totoro.
1.7
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The study could not be able to cover the entire state due to time factor and
financial challenges, but will only be limited to some selected communities in Abeokuta
local government area of Ogun state.
1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS
i.
Water pollution: the process of making water untidy.
ii.
Non – biodegradable: a substances or chemical that cannot be changed back to
a marless state by the action of bacteria and will therefore damage the
environment.
iii.
Toxic: harmful effect
iv.
Pathogens: a thing that cause disease
v.
Pollutant: a substance that add dirty or harmful substances to land, air, water,
etc. so that it is no longer pleasant or safe to us.
vi.
Environment: the physical conditions that somebody or something exists in.
vii.
Discharge: to send a substance out of a place
viii.
Contamination: when something is polluted with substances (dirt, chemical
etc) and it becomes impure or harmful.
ix.
Water course: water routes, water flows area.
x.
Substances: is a solid liquid, powder or gas with particular properties.
xi.
Species: is a class of plants or animals whose members have the same main
characteristics and are able to breed with each other.