The Coastal Niger Delta: Environmental Development and Planning

© Copyright 2012 Dr Michael Amaitari Niger.

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Printed in the United States of America.

isbn: 978-1-4669-1069-0 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-1071-3 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4669-1070-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012900133

Trafford rev. 01/11/2012

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CONTENTS

Foreword

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

APPENDICES

Appendix I

Appendix II

Appendix III

Appendix IV

Appendix V

Appendix VI

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Foreword

This research work and the results of our findings and conclusion are based on the Coastal Niger Delta as defined geographically or cartographically and not an administrative definition.

Geographically, the Coastal Niger Delta covers Rivers State, Bayelsa State and the south of the then Bendel State now Delta State. This is where we made our conclusions.

The regime of President Obansanjo’s administration redefined and extended the Coastal Niger Delta in the year 2000. From this new definition, the Delta covers an area of about 70,000 km² making 7.5% of Nigeria’s land mass instead of 36,296 km². This means that the Coastal Niger Delta is now officially made up of nine States: Bayelsa State, Delta State, Rivers State, Abia State, Akwa-Ibom State, Cross River State, Edo State, Imo State, and Ondo State with an altitude of over 400 m.

The work is meanly focused on the three states, Bayelsa, Delta (the southern part of the State) and Rivers as defined geographically, topographically or cartographically as the Niger Delta.

Dr M. A. Niger

FIGURES

Introduction

I.1: Definition and the Region studied (Bayelsa and Rivers States).

(a) Map of Nigeria showing the colonial North-South; Nigeria today and the Niger Delta.

(b) Map showing the Nine States administratively considered as part of the Niger Delta.

I.2: Sources of Rivers Forcados and Nun

I.3: The course of River Nun and its main tributaries

I.4: Cross section of River Nun (A – A)

I.5: River Nun view from above

I.6: General pattern of Sites. More frequent types of Sites in the Delta

I.7: System of settlements on the Forcados River

I.8: The course of River Forcados and it main tributaries

Chapter 1:

1.1: Types, topography and nature of formations of River and Marine deltas

A. Types of Deltas and the topography of their fluvial deposits

(a) Influenced by the run-destructive

(b) Influenced by the running live-constructive

(c) Influenced by destructive run

(d) Influenced by constructive run (very active)

B. Examples of coastal Deltas

(a) The delta of Nile

(b) The Mississippi delta (Fingered Part)

(c) The fingered Mississippi Delta (Coastal Delta)

1.2: The geomorphologic regions of the coastal Niger Delta

1.3: The types of flood plains

1.4: The general morphology of the Rivers in the Upper Delta (Forcados and Nun)

(a A section of River Nun showing different levels of tides and flood levels on the banks.

(b) Alternating levees and flood plains

1.5: The displacement of the zones of meanders and loops.

(a) The meanders, environment of the town of Odi (River Nun)

(b) The area of expansion loops down stream of the town of Odi (River Nun)

(c) The movement at the confluence of Rivers Forcados and Nun

(d) Meanders at Amassoma (e) Evolution paths (not to scale)

1.6: The general situation of River banks and system of levee/Estuaries.

A. The River banks and system of the levee

B. The situation at Brass is a special Port case

1.7: The meanders in the middle delta

(a) The movement of meanders (Buguma, Rivers State)

(b) Movements in the confluence near Buguma (Buguma, Rivers State)

1.8: The various types of meanders in the Delta

A. The types of meanders of rivers Forcados and Nun and creeks (upper delta)

(At Odi, Oweikorogha, Seibokorogha, Egbedi, Oporoma and Amassoma)

B. The meanders in the middle delta

C. The meanders in the lower delta

1.9: The mechanism of landslide at the river banks; a general case

1.10: The succession of the types of alluvial and sedimentary framework (A. Whitman 1982)

(a) The succession of types of layered alluvial deposit

(b) The stratigraphy of the delta unit

(c) The reconstruction section (Yenagoa formation)

(d) Layers encountered in drilling (prepared according to Whitman)

Chapter 2:

2.1: The course of the Niger River and its tributaries.

2.2: The phenomena of the flood and tide in the transition zone

Chapter 3:

3.1: The climatic conditions of the Delta

Chapter 5:

5.1: The category of growth centres in the Niger Delta

5.2: The types of growth centres in the second category of towns in the delta

(a) The first type of towns

(b) The second type of towns

5.3: The major sites and the centres of growth of Nigerian coastal cities

5.4: The spatial morphology of the main towns in the freshwater area and the transition zone

5.5: The spatial morphology of the main towns in the brackish water area

5.6: The spatial morphology of the main towns in the coastal zone

Chapter 6:

6.1: The Local Government Areas, their capitals (1973 & 1989) and development projects

(Soil reclammation, erosion and flood) in the area studied)

6.2: The channel (Eretu-oba) for shrimp fishing

Chapter 7:

7.1: Road communication network

7.2: The distribution of hospitals/health centres (1989) in the area studied

Chapter 8:

8.1: The main ethnic groups in the Niger Delta (East)

8.2: The cultural situation: The Ijaws and their neighbours in the Southern Nigeria

8.3: Districts of the Niger Delta (Western Delta)

Chapter 9:

9.1: The distribution and density of population in the area studied (Census 2006)

9.2: Urban growth in ten Local Government Areas (2006)

Chapter 10:

10.1: The distribution or locations of oil fields in the Eastern Niger Delta

10.2: Towns in the coastal Niger Delta having Ports (Port Harcourt, Warri etc)

Chapter 12:

12.1: The urban phenomena and administratively classified urban towns

PHOTOGRAPHY

Introduction

I.1: Showing a convex section of the Nun River in July with the sand bank almost submerged by the flood

I.2: The concave side of River opposite photo I.1

I.3: The vegetation along Rivers Forcados and Nun

(a) Part of the forest on the bank of River Nun (freshwater zone)

(b) Part of the forest on the bank of River Forcados (freshwater zone)

I.4: The vegetation of the transition zone

I.5: The vegetation of the brackish water zone

Chapter 1:

1.1: The landslide zone showing the affected trees and the flood plains (the convex bank)

(a) The landslide.

(b) The flood plains

1.2: Swamps: Typical situation of towns along Rivers Forcados and Nun

(a) Built in a swampy area

(b) North-West of the above area (a)

(c) Erosion caused by run off (net flow)

(d) Run off from precipitation (Rainfall)

1.3: A dwelling house affected by the phenomenon of erosion

Chapter 2:

2.1: The floods

(a) A house built to avoid flooding

(b) A house invaded by the floods at Amassoma

2.2: The levels of flooding (1988)

(a) The layers of the flood levels (Yenagoa 1988)

(b) The heights of the flood level (Amassoma 1988)

2.3: Flood and its disadvantages

(a) Photo taken during a two hour heavy rainfall (Amassoma)

(b) Municipal market invaded by floods (Yenagoa)

Chapter 7:

7.1: The Port Harcourt – Aba highway (Azikiwe Road)

7.2: The draining of mashes (land reclammation) at Port Harcourt for housing estates

Chapter 10:

10.1: An oil field at Oporoma

10.2: Rice farm and processing plant at Peremabiri

TABLES

Chapter 1:

1.1: The liquid flow of the coastal Niger delta (Eastern delta)

1.2: Erosion cause by rainfall and surface runoff water

Chapter 7:

7.1: The flow chart of D.F.R.R.I and its link to C. D. Cs.

7.2: The flow chart RAIRDEP.

Chapter 8:

8.1: The Kingdoms in the western Niger Delta

8.2: The social Organizations of the Niger Delta Communities

8.3: Demographic trends from 1963-1983 in the 10 Local Government Areas (East)

8.4: The demographic trends of all population of Towns/Cities of 1,500 and more Inhabitants in 1963 census (Tables a – j)

8.5: The localization and origin of growth according to the electoral Constituency in the . District of Oporoma

Chapter 9:

9.1: The size of the urban population from 1930-1990

9.2: Urban population growth

9.3: The demographic evolution of the Eastern Delta from 1963-2006

Chapter 10:

10.1: Loading in the delta Ports

10.2: Unloading in the delta Ports

Chapter 12:

12.1: The urban hierarchies

GRAPHICS

Chapter 2:

2.1: The average monthly flow of various points of the River Niger (1979)

2.2: The evolution of daily floods and flood rates

(a) The daily average flow of River Niger at Onitsha (on 37 years of observations Nedeco)

(b) The evolution of the daily flooding at Amassoma recorded in September 1989

Chapter 3:

3.1: Average annual temperatures in the delta

3.2: Comparative: Annual precipitations.

3.3: The seasons of the Niger Delta

Chapter 9:

9.1: The evolution of the urban population (1930-1989) of the delta compared to that of the Country

9.2: The evolution of the urban population growth in the Niger Delta

Image50976.PNG The Eastern Niger Delta (the area of study)

The Northern Nigeria (Consists of Nineteen States): N°. 2-19, 23 + FCT:

2-Kebbi, 3-Sokoto, 4-Zamfara, 5-Katsina, 6-Kano, 7-Jigawa, 8-Yobe, 9-Borno, 10-Niger,11-Kaduna,12-Bauchi, 13-Gombe, 14-Kwara, 15-Koji, FCT-Abuja, 16-Nassarawa, 17-Plateau, 18-Taraba, 19-Adamawa, 23-Benue

The Southern Nigeria (Consists of Seventeen States): N°. 1, 20-24, 24-35:

1-Lagos, 20-Oyo, 21-Osun, 22-Ekiti, 24-Ogun, 25-Akwa Ibom, 26-Ondo, 27-Edo, 28-Delta, 29-Anambra, 30-Enugu, 31-Ebonyi, 32-Cross River, 33-Bayelsa, 34-Rivers, 35-Imo

(a) Map of Nigeria showing the Colonial division (North and South) and Nigeria Today & the Coastal Niger Delta Region

States: 1-Rivers, 2-Bayelsa, 3-Delta, 4-Akwa Ibom, 5-Abia, 6-Imo,

7-Cross River, 8-Edo, 9-Ondo

(b) Map showing the 9 States administratively considered as part of the Coastal Niger Delta.

(c) Limits of the region of the Delta studied with some major cities/towns.

Fig I.1: Definition and the region studied: Bayelsa and Rivers States.

INTRODUCTION

The Research in the field of development and planning of the Niger Delta is in its infancy, but it is possible to identify a set of qualitative and topographic features of the environment specific to the Region.

In fact, the principal problems facing development and planning the towns in the Niger Delta are topographic, geographic and human.

I.1. The subject of the theme of study

We have been conscious for several years by the problems of flooding, erosion and other natural constraints. These are our experiences and our knowledge of the Delta region. The influence that these scourges exercise on the region is as much as human as the topography of the environment, morphology of the towns, the lifestyle and economic activities, diseases: cholera, malaria, eye disease, hepatitis B and other diseases yet unknown, but immerging in the Delta affecting its inhabitants.

In fact, the Niger Delta is long been considered an amphibious zone, because of its very low altitude above sea level, 20 metres at the most (more than two-third), compounded by the multitude of creeks, marshes and swamps. These special topographic and hydrological conditions characterizing the Delta limit the extension planning. It is however, for us, not only interesting to study the region, but also highlight opportunities for expansion and planning the towns and cities in the Delta. This will be a development that takes into account the local economic conditions. It will also reflect on the technical tools related to this development.

About two-thirds of the entire Niger Delta (36,269 km²) are below 15 m altitude above sea level. This resulted to an uneven development and spatial planning of the towns and cities in the Delta as compared to other cities and towns in other States in the country. Why? Because the Authorities at that time (the then Government of the Eastern Region) believed that the Niger Delta cannot be developed. Today, due to the pressure from the Delta people these pre-judgements are phasing out, but there is yet more to be done by the Federal Government, since The Niger Delta is the bread winner of the Nation The Pride of the Nation (Rivers State) and the Glory of all lands (Bayelsa State).

The policy pursued in the Delta Regional planning has involved in recent years to promote the idea that the entire south and the annual flood affected areas cannot be intensively developed. This idea originated from the then Government of the Eastern Region and continued until the creation of the Rivers State in 1967. The idea still survives, but in another form, and Authorities.

However, the programs of urban development have not integrated the particularities of the entire Delta. Much of this uneven development is due to the political authorities, Federal Government, and the different State Governments in the Delta. Furthermore, no study focused on urban expansion has been done taking into account the peculiarities of the Delta environment. The studies to date are on the morphology and the navigability of the river (NEDECO), the rural development related to agriculture (Niger Delta Basin Authority, Ministry of Works & Transport) etc

However, the Institute for flood, erosion, soil reclamation and transport¹, with the assistance of NDBDA and the Ministry of Works and Transport (Port Harcourt) made few studies. These are projects of soil reclamation, erosion etc (on the eastern Niger Delta).

There are however, a mismatch between the management programs and the needs identified at the town level in the zones. This makes the region (Delta), a typical example of under-developed and most neglected regions in the country despite its position as the bread winner (The oil producing Region).

Thus, this issue seems particularly aimed at the technical and economical solutions compatible with all the problems topographic, geographic and human resources identified in the region including issues of extension of its cities and towns.

I.2. The issue of our research

The natural phenomena such as, flood, erosion, topography, and the morphology of the Delta present many problems to development and urban expansion.

In fact, the existence of many creeks, streams, swamps has resulted to the concentration of all development projects and