#multinational companies in niger

[readyforevolution]

Burkina Faso renounces its Non-Double neocolonial Taxation Treaty with France, a pact that has been in place since 1967.

Burkina Faso under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré has withdrawn from the Non-Double neocolonial Taxation Treaty with France that was established in 1967.

The Burkina Faso government announced the termination of the double taxation agreement, signed on August 11, 1965, which had been in effect since February 15, 1967, along with its subsequent amendment signed on June 3, 1971, which took effect on October 1, 1974.

The decision comes as a result of France's refusal to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. Olivia Rouamba, head of Burkina Faso’s diplomatic service, explained that this action is necessary due to France's lack of response to requests for negotiations made in January 2020 and late 2021. The denunciation will become effective within three months from the date of notification.

This move is seen as significant, as it will impact French multinationals in Burkina Faso, who previously benefited from tax exemptions under the treaty.

A “huge blow” for France

Phillipe Traoré, a tax expert from Burkina Faso, explained that the double taxation treaty, among other things, allows individuals and companies to avoid paying taxes on the same income in two different countries.

He believes that this measure is “very serious for French multinationals” established in Burkina, adding that “all French income derived from activities carried out on Burkinabe soil will now be taxed.”

“In fact, with the convention signed, the Burkinabè did not deduct any withholding tax on income from services provided by French people (individuals and/or companies) in Burkina,” he said.

The tax expert pointed out that French companies, in particular, are exempt from many taxes in Burkina by virtue of the double taxation treaty.

In his opinion, this gives them a competitive advantage over all other companies operating in Burkina Faso.

“It is a real blow for France and a financial windfall for Burkina,” insisted Phillipe Traoré.

This denunciation comes 48 hours after France suspended all development aid and budgetary support to Burkina following the support given by the Burkinabe military junta to the National Committee for the Defence of the Homeland (CNSP), which overthrew Mohamed Bazoum in Niger on July 26.

[lboogie1906]

Kenule Beeson “Ken” Saro-Wiwa (October 10, 1941 – November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian writer, television producer, environmental activist, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award for “exemplary courage in striving non-violently for civil, economic, and environmental rights” and the Goldman Environmental Prize. He was a member of the Ogoni people, an ethnic minority in Nigeria whose homeland, Ogoniland, in the Niger Delta, has been targeted for crude oil extraction since the 1950s and which has suffered extreme environmental damage from decades of indiscriminate petroleum waste dumping. Initially as spokesperson, and then as president, of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multinational petroleum industry, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company. He was an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, which he viewed as reluctant to enforce environmental regulations on the foreign petroleum companies operating in the area.

At the peak of his non-violent campaign, he was tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the gruesome murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. His execution provoked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[etiennekissborlase]

Already 13 African Countries Utilize Ripple And XRP: Report

Already 13 African Countries Utilize Ripple And XRP: Report https://bitcoinist.com/already-13-african-countries-utilize-ripple-xrp/ The “African Blockchain Report 2022” report by CV VC in collaboration with South Africa’s Standard Bank reveals that Ripple and XRP are already utilized in 13 African countries. In the report, which was released in late April 2023 but has gone unnoticed in the XRP community, an entire page is dedicated to the technology of Ripple. According to the report, the opportunities for digital payment service providers like Ripple in Africa are overwhelming. While the region has already made significant progress in recent years, much of the potential is still untapped, it says. By 2025 alone, electronic payments revenue is expected to grow 20% to $40 billion. However, there are still gaps in the continent’s financial system that leave countless people unbanked and many African businesses. Crypto is also the solution due to the high penetration of cell phones. Yet, less than 10% of total payments in Africa are currently made digitally. According to the report authors, blockchain and crypto-enabled remittances can save an average of 6.3%, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 8.46% in fees compared to traditional methods. Ripple Already Well-Positioned In Africa The report effectively provides a pitch for Ripple and its XRP based On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solution. It also unveils a map of the countries in which the company is already active: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Uganda. The authors write that both financial institutions and individuals will benefit from Ripple’s modernization of the African payments system: Ripple’s payments solution, On-Demand Liquidity, enables organizations to settle global payments in real-time at a fraction of the cost without tying up working capital in destination accounts. By leveraging the digital asset XRP as a bridge currency, funds can be sent and received in local currency on either side of a transaction. Thanks to Ripple’s growing global network, multinational financial institutions can also benefit, according to the report. They can reduce costs by eliminating upfront funding while gaining access to payout rails around the globe. As digital payments innovation and crypto adoption broaden, Ripple is partnering with local financial institutions and fintechs to bring the benefits of better cross-border remittances to the region, including regional payment interoperability and seamless money movement across the continent. A special mention is also made of Ripple’s partnership with MFS Africa, which was announced in the first quarter of 2023. According to the report, the South Africa-based provider is using ODL to create ISO20022-compliant payment services with blockchain-based payment rails. XRP Price Needs To Hold Crucial Support At press time, the XRP price stood at $0.4259. Price needs to hold support at $0.41 to avoid falling back into the November 2022 to mid-March 2023 trading range. On the upside, $0.44 is the most important resistance, while the 200-day EMA at $0.4354 could also provide stronger headwinds. via Bitcoinist.com https://bitcoinist.com May 09, 2023 at 10:20AM

[ussweetners]

Dextrose Turkey Dextrose And Sodium Chloride Dextrose Monohydrate

The growth of the beverage industry has favorably influenced the expansion of the dextrose market. Dextrose syrup is used as a sweetener in aerated and non-aerated drinks; it supplies taste, texture, and required energy bulk dextrose for the human body. The Dextrose market is estimated at USD 5.9 billion in 2022; it is projected to develop at a CAGR of 7.8%.to succeed in USD eight.6 billion by 2027.

Rising demand for dairy merchandise is also anticipated to spice up the expansion of the aesthetic dextrose market. Primarily North American Market is paying keen attention to wash labels and their benefits, thus aiding in the manufacturing of natural-made food components like fermented dextrose. Cultured Dextrose is produced through the controlled fermentation of milk or dextrose with propionibacterium freudenreichii.

Dextrose is a sugar often obtained by the hydrolysis of starch. Dextrose Monohydrate is a white crystalline powder, also referred to as D-Glucose Powder. Our service is versatile, dependable dextrose supplier and competitively priced, and our portfolio is unmatched in high quality. That’s why at Graham Chemical, we’re your hyperlink to specialty chemicals.

The addition of dextrose in alcoholic drinks like low-calorie beers and specialty beers accelerates the fermentation process, thus gaining strong traction among the drinks market. Ingredion is an American multinational ingredient provider producing starch, modified starches and starch sugars as glucose syrup and excessive fructose syrup. The company turns corn, tapioca, potatoes, and other greens and fruits into ingredients for the food, beverage, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries and quite a few industrial sectors. Ingredion is the third largest Dextrose Monohydrate producer in the world and market share is about 6% in 2019. We are main supplier of Dextrose Monohydrate (D-glucose), is a sugar that’s a steady, odorless, white crystalline powder or colorless crystal.

At Graham Chemical, we’re a quantity one world distributor of specialty food components and industrial chemicals. Dextrose is a type of sugar that usually comes from corn or wheat. Almost equivalent to glucose, which is the sugar discovered within the bloodstream, permits dextrose for use as a source of power in the body. Dextrose is commonly used as an artificial sweetener or a preservative. Dextrose is the time period given by the meals trade to D-glucose, which is used by all residing cells as a source of vitality.

Dextrose is usually administered through injection and given at a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic. For example, when diabetic hypoglycemia is severe enough to trigger unconsciousness, it might require intravenous dextrose. Chewing gum is much more gratifying when crystalline dextrose is an ingredient because it improves pliability as it sweetens.

Individuals receiving the data should train their unbiased judgment and do further search in determining its appropriateness for a selected purpose. In no case shall our firm be liable to loss or damages by the product consumer. Isolate and enumerate yeasts and molds from dairy and food products and prepare Aspergillus niger for the Harmonised Microbial Limit Tests from international pharmacopoeia with Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Potato Dextrose Agar .

Available grades embrace lump, granular, powder, slurry and micron sized. Packaging options corresponding to pails, paper luggage, fiber drums and FIBC bulk baggage offered. Mubychem Group has several manufacturing services spread throughout Western India and world broad contacts and toll producers. Monohydrate crystalline dextrose may be additional processed to supply dextrose distributor anhydrous dextrose, anhydrous dextrose, natural compounds, that's, dextrose without water of crystal. We’ve fostered relationships with leading global suppliers to provide access to a broad range of chemicals, from commodity to hard-to-find. And our turnkey course of delivers what you need, when you need it.

[africanthinker]

Finally, Shell can no longer shirk responsibility for Niger Delta oil spills

Finally, Shell can no longer shirk responsibility for Niger Delta oil spills

Like many who have witnessed the environmental impact of multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta, we welcomed two recent ground-breaking rulings in the UK Supreme Court and the Dutch appeals court. Both cases signal a shift in the onus of responsibility. It now lies firmly at the feet of multinationals who have prospered, profited, and polluted in the Niger Delta. In the case heard in the…

[thetens-blog1]

Administrative Officer Job at BluePoint Global Services Limited,January 2017

Administrative Officer Job at BluePoint Global Services Limited,January 2017

Administrative Officer Job at BluePoint Global Services Limited,January 2017 BluePoint Global Services Limited is a Nigerian company providing industry critical support services, specializing in oil and gas, information & communications technology (ICT), real estate, trading and distributive services. BluePoint Global Services Limited is recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title:…

[camfoc]

Kenule Beeson "Ken" Saro-Wiwa (10 Oct. 1941 – 10 Nov. 1995).

Video: “The Life & death of Ken Saro Wiwa“

Kenule Beeson "Ken" Saro-Wiwa was a Nigerian dissident writer, television producer, environmental activist, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award and the Goldman Environmental Prize. Saro-Wiwa was a member of the Ogoni people, an ethnic minority in Nigeria whose homeland, Ogoniland, in the Niger Delta has been targeted for crude oil extraction since the 1950s and which has suffered extreme environmental damage from decades of indiscriminate petroleum waste dumping. Initially as spokesperson, and then as president, of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multinational petroleum industry, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company. He was also an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, which he viewed as reluctant to enforce environmental regulations on the foreign petroleum companies operating in the area. on November 10th 1995 rhe Nigerian Government under pressure from the Shell oil Company executed Ken Saro Wiwa. The oil giant Shell has since agreed to pay $15.5m (£9.6m) in settlement of a legal action in which it was accused of having ­collaborated in the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the Ogoni tribe of southern Nigeria.

[siakor-blog]

Concept Development Finance Project objective to create Rural Finance Companies across the Niger Delta.

OGLGA beginning with Ogbia Local Government Area For total inclusiveness, membership is opened to anyone from the OGLGA. A company is formed. Board of Directors elected. Objectives to buy shares in any  or All oil and gas companies, seismic companies, etc.,   especially multinationals operating in the Niger Delta in ones region such as in the Niger Delta.

Mission of the company to be established: To promotes and ensure Multinational in their LGA prioritized communities at the heart of development and genuinely worked to achieve the highest standards of environmental sustainability, inclusion, and human rights in all their policies, projects, and programs.

Objectives 1. buy shares in in all Multinationals - Banks, Oil firms, Gas, Etc  operating in their area 2. ensure communities and grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) are equipped to hold the Multinationals accountable for adherence to these high standards in all of the institutions’ activities in their communities and LGA 3. money got from dividend of their shares will be use to foster development activities in the LGA - sponsor, education, infrastructure development, healthcare, etc. 4. Nonviolent direct action encourage. 5. No place for violence.

[37q]

i wanted to do a whole write-up of how fucked up mining's impact on african communities is but that would take days to go into detail over so i settled for this excerpt from Nouhou Naino's, "Environmental and sanitation conditions of uranium mining in Niger. In: Uranium mining impact on health & environment",

There is a broad variety of impacts of uranium, but not even the financial benefits have a positive effect for the country of origin of the ore: The revenue generated from exploitation of uranium in all the mines is amounting to only 5% of the national budget (2010) of Niger.

The negative and harmful impact to the environment as well as to the health and hygiene of the people cannot be overestimated. In the region of Agadez, where the headquarters of uranium mines are located, there is proven contamination of water and the environment by radioactive materials. The area where the uranium is exploited is in the desert with scarcity of water resources, wind, heat, and sunny conditions. It is also very cold at night. The town of Arlit was a creation due to the exploitation of uranium; it is adjacent to the mines and therefore bears the immediate impact.

Other impacts on the environment include: air pollution, liquid waste, solid waste, millions of tons of waste from rocks and poor ores. These wastes expose the environment to the radioactivity of radioisotopes, the hazards of the toxicity of chemicals such as sulphuric acid and heavy metals, the poisonous residues from processing of uranium ore, and they deteriorate air quality.

Consequences are heightened risks of severe diseases among the miners and their families, for example disruption of the hormonal system, cancer, infertility, birth malformations, abortion and psychological impacts.

In health matters, the doctors dealing with those patients do not reveal the diseases detected. The mining companies are not obliged to take care of medical insurance. And even worse, the sick are accused of being carriers of HIV as some of the symptoms resemble those of people with Aids. Therefore the whole medical situation is disastrous.

Many problems are associated with availability of clean water, this particularly applies to Arlit where it is very dry and water is scarce. The price of a 20 litre gallon of water is six times the price of the same in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Two hundred and seventy (270) billion litres of water have been pumped between 1978 and 2004 to keep the water intensive industry running (source: AREVA). Consequently there is loss of water from the fossil aquifers. Another problem is the contamination of water, analyses of some wells have shown that the water is unfit for consumption and the wells have been closed. COMINAK and SOMAÏR mines in Arlit each use 99 cubic metres of water per hour for treatment of the minerals. Further on, the 14,000 inhabitants of Arlit can only access water between 3.00 am and 4.00 am in the morning.

putting that earlier-mentioned "5% of the natonal budget" into perspective, Ibrahima Thiam contextualizes it well in her article "Niger—the fight for uranium",

Niger is facing a significant period in its historical relation with France, its former colonial master. The economic relationship between the two countries is mainly based on exploitation of natural resources, in particular the uranium exploitation through the multinational corporation AREVA. [...] AREVA has been exploiting uranium in Niger since the 1970s and still occupies a monopoly position through subsidiary companies like SOMAÏR and COMINAK.

In 2010 AREVA produced of 114,346 tons of uranium valued at 4.5 billion US$. However, out of this sum the Niger government received 460 million US$ only. This illustrates the discrepancy between the productivity and the financial revenues. The Nigeriens themselves are increasingly raising the question why there’s still such poverty in the country. Debates have raged of how Niger is able to fuel 80% of French electricity without having light at home. In France, three in four light bulbs are illuminated through Nigerien uranium whereas the direct access of local people who are connected to electricity lies between 10 and 12%; in rural areas about two to three percent only. Answering these questions will necessitate reconsidering the political and economic relations between France and its former colony Niger.

Environmental Racism in the Sahara Desert. Idrissou Mora Kapi, 2004. 

A case study in environmental racism set in the uranium mining town in the Sahara desert of Niger. European corporations extract nuclear power and profits leaving behind disease, contamination, and unemployment. Ironically the primary activities of Arlit today is waiting, waiting to die of radiation related sicknesses or to emigrate to find work in Europe itself. -Kanopy

[lboogie1906]

Kenule Beeson “Ken” Saro-Wiwa (October 10, 1941 – November 10, 1995) was a Nigerian writer, television producer, environmental activist, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award for “exemplary courage in striving non-violently for civil, economic, and environmental rights” and the Goldman Environmental Prize. He was a member of the Ogoni people, an ethnic minority in Nigeria whose homeland, Ogoniland, in the Niger Delta, has been targeted for crude oil extraction since the 1950s and which has suffered extreme environmental damage from decades of indiscriminate petroleum waste dumping. Initially as spokesperson, and then as president, of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multinational petroleum industry, especially the Royal Dutch Shell company. He was an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government, which he viewed as reluctant to enforce environmental regulations on the foreign petroleum companies operating in the area.

At the peak of his non-violent campaign, he was tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the gruesome murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha. His execution provoked international outrage and resulted in Nigeria’s suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations for over three years. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[newshubnaija]

Insecurity: Niger Delta states, oil firms tasked with youth employment

Insecurity: Niger Delta states, oil firms tasked with youth employment

The various state governments in the Niger Delta and the multinational oil companies operating in the region have been called upon to, as a matter of deliberate policy, embark on aggressive youth employment this year as part of measures to tackle insecurity in the region. Also, they were enjoined to set in motion workable media… Read More

[juniperpublishersoceanography]

Impact of Coastal Flooding on Fish Production in Brass, Niger Delta Nigeria, Implication for Coastal Resource Management- Juniper Publishers

Abstract

In recent times, the deteriorating state of the rivers have begin to gain prominence, this is because there have being a reduction in fish catch and the economy of the fishermen and women who depends on this as their source of livelihood. Due to the fragile nature of the Niger Delta and the turn out of climate change which has lead to excessive rainfall and intense heat, the area has been in so much pains as their only source lo livelihood is been affected. In this study two fishing ports were used and from a water sample analysis it showed that although flooding in the area to an extent affects the quality of water as well as the state of fishes, but the most is the activities of man arising from the use of water bodies as dumpsites for refuse and toilets and oil spills from industrial activities of multinational companies and sand dredging. Therefore the study recommends that government and the private sector should see that within these delicate areas developmental projects that have true bearing on the lives of the people are put in place as to reduce the use of water bodies as the only source of dumping refuse and toilets and that fishermen and women in these areas should be encouraged by way of training and provision of modern fishing equipments as to meet up the demands for fish and improve their own economy.

Keywords: Flooding; Costal development; Climate change; Anthropogenic activities

Introduction

The increasing frequency and sometimes intensity of unusual weather-linked phenomenon as a result of climate change in recent times is evident. The United Nations Framework Convention [1] on climate change is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity, that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, leading to unprecedented weather condition. This in turn overtime affects the food production.

In recent times there is limited understanding of how climate variability currently impacts food systems and associated livelihoods [2,3]. This needs to be better understood before assessing the impact of climate change on food security. The impact of long - term trends in climate change, in particular related global warming, is less well - understood in fisheries but is beginning to receive attention.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has developed expertise and experience in rapid appraisal of the impacts of disasters on local fishing communities and aquatic ecosystems and the immediate and longer-term remedial action required. Long-term climate change has important feedback loops to global ocean circulation patterns, sea level rise and changes in ocean salinity all of which affect the biological properties and distribution of species. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has linked the rise in sea level to climate change. Between 1960 and 1970, a mean sea level rise of 0.462m was recorded along the Nigerian coastal water [4]. Current environmental problems in the coastal area of the country are flooding which comes from the high rainfall, run off from rivers and urban channels and tidal movement and wind [5]. With this problem already common, the issue of sea level rise occasioned by global climate change will exacerbate it. In addition is the potential to cause permanent inundation, beach erosion and salinity. The inundation arising from the rise in sea level will increase problems of floods, intrusion of sea-water into fresh water sources and ecosystems, destroying such stabilizing systems as mangroves, and affecting agriculture, fisheries and general livelihoods [6]. Flooding of low-lying areas in the Niger Delta region has been observed. The phenomenon of flooding is of concern when places important to humans are affected. Floods may be caused by different factors such as rise in stream level, inadequate drainage during and after prolonged precipitation and coastal storms, tides and high waves.

Flooding is one of the most costly and serious hazards to be faced in the use of land resources. Damage is of three categories:

Water Immersion

i. The impact of moving water and debris carried by water.

ii. Erosion and depositional activities of streams as their volume and velocity rise and fall.

Floods have continued to be an annual menace to the inhabitants of the Niger Delta Region. The people have been resigned to accepting the situation and also adjusting their activities, agricultural, social or otherwise according to the dictates of the floods about which they have been able to do very little. Some communities in worst affected areas have to build their houses on stilts that rise above the local flood levels. Because of the threat of the floods to property and life, the area has not offered the favourable atmosphere for meaningful investment. Houses in most parts have continued to be temporary structures of mud and thatched roofs, not considered too great an economic loss to the owner in the event of damage by flood or erosion.

The Niger Delta, like any other delta, is built up by deposition of sediments due to the decrease of flow velocity as the in flowing rivers (rivers Niger and Benue), enter a larger and calmer body, in this case, the Atlantic ocean. The resultant topography is that of very gentle slopes leading to numerous criss-crossing distributaries and estuaries with pronounced meanders which have a rich fertile soil with high agricultural potential. But unlike many other deltas the world over, the Niger Delta is about the least utilized with regards to its potentialities for large-scale agricultural development. The factors militating against such development include the difficulty in assess, being mainly by water, and the non-availability of large tracts of flood free land. The Niger Delta can be categorized as the area with Aboh, as the apex, to the Atlantic coast. The main characteristics of the area include the levees of the rivers as the highest land sloping gradually away from the banks to lowlands called back swamps. Such bank swamps are usually filled during the floods as the level of the water rises in river channels, usually leaving only a narrow stretch of land between the riverbanks and back swamps uninundated.

Bayelsa State of which the study area is a local government area is located in the central Niger Delta. So all the aforementioned characteristics of and problems affecting the production of fish in the Niger Delta occur in the state. Flooding is the most serious in the state in comparison with other Niger Delta states.

Fisheries ecosystems and fishing-based livelihoods are subject to a range of climate related variability, from extreme weather events, floods and droughts, through changes in aquatic ecosystem structure and productivity, changing patterns and abundance of fish stocks. Fishery resources are of particular significance in Nigeria as they provide a considerable amount of dietary protein in the country and the sector also serves as a major source of employment and labour for a large proportion of Nigerians in the riverine areas.

Fishing is a major livelihood activity of the people living in the coastal areas of Nigeria. This is because most of their land area is covered by water bodies with very little percentage of the land area suitable for other agricultural production activities such as crop and livestock production. Many households in these coastal areas are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change as a result of their low adaptive capacity to climate change [7]. Recent occurrences of flood have been reported in these coastal areas [7,8]. The consequences of flood due to climate change such as loss of fish, change in fish species, erosion of human habitat, and land will have greater impact on the welfare and the livelihood of fishermen most especially in terms of income realized from fishing activities.

As a result of flooding, some species of fishes have migrated to another location while some others died. This leads to low productivity and consequently reduced fish catch and low standard of living. This has also increased the spread of different types of diseases among the fishers and their household which includes malaria, typhoid etc. All these coupled with the problem faced by fishers has led them to adopt different coping strategies.

Francisco et al. [9] conducted a survey related to the perception of the riverine population to flood occurrences at the lower Sao Francisco river municipalities, especially with regards to the 2004 flood. To the riverine population, natural floods were always historically recognized as being positive, with the practice of agriculture on the flooded lands possible and also working as a nursery area for fish, promoting the local biodiversity conservation. With the river discharge regularization throughout the year, a decrease of fish quantity, biodiversity, and waterlogged land farming (marginal lagoon) was reported. Having stated this the interest of the study is to examine coastal flooding and it's effect on fish production in Brass local Government area,along sideidentifying the factors responsible for coastal flooding in the area, identify the extent of flooding, determine the impact of flooding on the economy of fishermen and women in the area and to proffer solution to the menace.

Literature of the Problem

Water is an indispensable ingredient of life in earth. Its supply is essentially constant and beyond the scope of humans to increase or alter any threat of reduction in availability of lessening of quality of a material so basic to our very lives as water is certain to arouse strong, emotion and deep concerns [10].

Water is a basic constituent of the biotic community. In nature, it occurs in land, below its surface, in the atmosphere and in the biosphere 97% of the total volume of water available, is in the ocean, 2% stored in the form of ice-sheels and less than 1% is available as fresh water. More so, only water in rivers, lake, swamps constitute only 0.36% of the world fresh water supplies is easily accessible to man and available to use [11]. Although man could alter the form and distribution of this usable water or at best improve its quality for better human use the distribution is uneven and fixed.

As population grows, so does demand for fresh water for various uses as mentioned above increases and in turn, population density typically affect the availability and quality of water resource in an area. The problem therefore is not with the global amount of water but its distribution, availability and quality.

According to Caddle in [10], the problem of water lies in four areas, namely, quality, quantity, reliability and financing. Reduced reliability and availability of supply are echoed in a reduced quality of the world's fresh water inventory, increased silt loads of streams, pollution of surface and groundwater supplies and lakes acidified and biologically dead or prematurely filled by siltation and algae growth are evidence of adverse human impact on an indispensable component of the biosphere [12].

Although. human activities are the major causes of water quality degradation. Nature also contaminates water, to a certain degree. Natural water is never pure in the chemical sense. The most basic of these is the role of water as a "universal solvent". Through precipitation and surface run off, minerals, gases, particulate matter are collected down the water bodies and in turn contaminate water. Natural event such as torrential rainfall and horricanes can lead to excessive erosion and landslides, which in turn increases the content of suspended materials in affected rivers. Seasonal overturn of the water in some lake can bring water with little or no dissolved oxygen to the surface.

Flooding is one of the hazardous phenomena associated with human settlements; especially those built lowland, which are generally regarded as floodplains. Floods may result from excessive rainfall, the bursting of dams or in marine environment, tidal influences. Coastal floods may be distinguished from river flood. These differ in cause, length of time of the event and predictability. Flooding brings about deposition of the sediment; the level of levee as well as the river channel may be raised.

The walls of the channels of a flowing river are often steeper than the surrounding landmass. The adjoining floodplain is usually flatter land. The floods that inundate the floodplains represent water that are in excess of the channel's holding capacity. When this occurs, water outside the channel is referred to as floodwater while the river itself is said to be in flood or flood stage. The area of the channel and adjoining flat ground is referred to as floodway. A rare situation is where a large valley has well defined floodplains. When this happens, flood fringe is identified. Inundation of a flood fringe occurs in very high flood situations with a return period of 100 years, in the U.S.A [13].

Perhaps the commoners definition of flood is that of Perkins and Stembridge which defined flood as "when land becomes covered with water". This occurs mostly during rainy season when the level of the river rises, and water covers the land nearby. The rivers are then flooded while the mangrove swamps in the area are flooded when the tide rises.

Defining flood is difficult, partly because floods are complex phenomena and partly because they are viewed differently by different people. Floods occur in many ways, usually in valley bottoms and coastal areas and can be produced by a number of influencing conditions. Their (flood) locations and magnitudes vary considerably and as a result they have marked different effects upon the environment. For most practical purposes and certainly in popular usage a meaningful flood definition will incorporate the notions of "damage" and "inundation".

As might be expected most flood definitions relate to river flood and the one by Chow [14] is not untypical: A flood is a relatively high flow, which overtakes the natural channel provided for the runoff.

In fact many stream channels have been artificially improved upon that the definition of Rost V et al. [14] is probably most appropriate 'A flood is any high stream flow, which overtops the natural of artificial bank of a stream".

However because the banks of a stream vary in height throughout its course, there is no single bank full level above which the river is in flood and below which it is not. In a strictly hydrological sense therefore, a flood may be any relatively high water level or discharge above an arbitrarily selected flood level or flood discharge.

The most cause of flooding is climatological in nature. Keller [15], Akintola [16], and Ward [17] just to mention a few illustrate this assertion in their studies on floods. They all uphold that excessive and prolonged rainfall and the incidence of snowfall are the most universal causes of floods. In other types of floods, climatological factors are partly or indirectly responsible.

Schulz & Cleaves [18] assert that soil characteristics can also affect flooding with regards to infiltration rate. The portion of rain that sinks below the surface has been estimated to change from about 50% in humid regions to nearly 100% in arid regions minus of course soil evaporation. Hence a prolonged input of water can lead to soil beingsaturated resulting in floods as further infiltration becomes impossible [17]. Thus, where rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity, there is increase in the ratio of flood peak discharge resulting in floods. This made a quick flow generation originally propounded by Horton [19] which was though to have universal application, but recent revelations demonstrate that it relates only to conditions of low infiltration and increased human activities [18].

Coates [13] has conveniently divided flood-causing agencies to geologic and human. A comprehensive list of geomorphologic causes include excessive precipitation, snowmelt, ice dams, landslides and glaciers. Of these only two are common in tropical environments like Nigeria. These are excessive precipitation and landslides. According to Coates, excessive precipitation is the principal cause of most floods and ultimate cause of almost every flood. The mechanism operates as flows: Stream channels, gullies and rills, are often developed during the fluvial cycle of erosion to hold only the runoff caused during the heaviest rainfall periods. Storms of greater magnitude or intensity may exceed the bank storage and overflow into the floodplain and adjoining terrain.

Analytical Techniques

Since the study is a survey to determine the effect of coastal flooding on fish production in Brass as well as its effect on the economy of fishermen and women in the area. The researcher made use of secondary data such as rainfall data of the area for a period of 8 years from 2004-2011 which is a determinant of flooding, and a water sample analysis of the river within the period of flooding to see if the quality of the river meets world standard for aquaculture. Among the parameters tested for are; pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids and turbidity.

Three fishing ports were identified in the study as the sample population amongst which two were randomly selected which are Mbikiri and Igbabele, it was in these two fishing ports that the study was conducted. In the analysis of the data, the multiple regression statistical technique was used to determine the influence of flooding on water quality in the area. Secondly a descriptive statistical analysis was done to ascertain if the quality of the water in the area meets the world standard for aquaculture (Table 1) [21].

Source: extracted from Weli [21].

The table above shows rainfall data and the calculated rainfall intensity for a period of twelve (8) years. The calculated rain fall intensity record shows that there exist variations in the intensity of rainfall amongst the various years with 2010 having the highest intensity of 78.2mm/h, followed by 2007 having an intensity of 58.6mm/h and the year 2006 having 55.4mm/h. The implication of this is that with the intensity of rainfall in the area been a coastal community which ordinarily is liable to flooding, the area has always experienced flooding but the extent has been determined by the intensity of the rainfall.

Water Sample Analysis Report

The result of the water samples analysis of the two fishing ports in Brass as the study area is shown below (Table 2)

In this section the multiple regression statistical technique is used to determine the influence of flooding on the water quality of the two fishing ports, using the equation;

y = a + b1x1 +b2x2+ + e (Equation1)

where;

Y = flooding (rainfall intensity)

a = regression constant

b1-b2 = regression co-efficient

X1 = water quality parameters for Igbabele

X2 = water quality parameters for Mbikiri

e = error term

This is because there is an interplay within the various parameters, their extent of relationship especially as it concerns flooding. That is, to ascertain if water quality parameters of the two fishing ports is influenced by flooding in the area. However, from the data generated the mean flooding (rainfall intensity) was 47.8875 with a standard deviation of 16.82247 (Table 3). Moreso, a table of the various independent variables mean and standard deviations including that of the dependent variable of flooding (rainfall intensity) is shown on the table below.

A view ofthe out put of the SPSS computer model among other thingsreveal the correlation matrix to show the relationship between suspended sediment yield to velocity, depth, discharge and bed load.

The Table 4 above displays the correlation matrix of two independent variables of Water quality parameters for Igbabele and Water quality parameters for Mbikiri on the dependent variable of Flood (Rainfall Intensity) in the area.

From Table 4, it is revealed that a relationship exists between the independent variable of Water quality parameters for Mbikiri and the dependent variable of Flood (Rainfall Intensity). The students "t" statistic for this correlation is 2.855 and its corresponding table value of 8 degrees of freedom at 0.05 significance level is 2.31. Hence, this implies that there is no statistically significant relationship between flood (Rainfall Intensity) and Water quality parameter for Mbikiri.

From the Table 4, the water quality parameters for Igbabele has a negative correlation co-efficient of -0.62 with suspended sediment yield. In the same vein, the calculated "t" statistic for this correlation is 0.199 which is less than the table value at 0.05 significance level and 8 degrees of freedom at 0.05 significance level is 2.31. Hence this implies that there is a statistically significant relationship between flood (Rainfall Intensity) and Water quality parameter for Igbabele.

Conclusively, the implication of the above statement is that flooding influences the water quality of Mbikiri more than that of Igbabele, this is as a result of the type of land use in the area which is high commercial activities and residential land use and the presence of several multi nationals carrying out oil exploration activities in the area. For Igbabele flooding has been described as a major cause of the state of the water quality, arising from surface runoff and anthropogenic actions such as using water bodies as toilets and refuse dumps. Looking at Table 2 above, it is observed that the quality of the water according to each parameter is heavy for Mbikiri more than Igbabele (Table 5).

From the table above, it is observed that the water quality of the two areas meets the WHO standard with Mbikiri having the highest amount for pH, Temperature (°C), Dissolved Oxygen and Biological oxygen demand while for the other parameters such as Total suspended solid, Chemical oxygen demand, Total dissolved solids and Turbidity, the two areas have amounts of these constituents higher than the WHO standard with Mbikiri also having the highest amount of constituents for each parameter. This then shows that for fishing Igbabele is the best point though some of the parameters do not fall within acceptable standards but is far better than that of Mbikiri.

Conclusion

In conclusion, arising from the result of the study it is important to state that flooding in its totality may not be responsible for the problem of fishing been experienced in the Niger Delta, but as proofed by the study the effect of man has lead to the deteriorating state of the water quality in our Rivers, in terms of using water bodies as refuse dumps, toilets, avenues for effluent discharge, and more so the activities of oil companies such as oil spill in rivers, and the current boom of sand dredging leading to loss of aquatic lives and reduction in the economic power of fishermen and women in the area.

Hence, the following recommendations are put forward;

a. There is need to create an agency saddled with the responsibility of coastal zone development, so as to give the area its rightful place noting is fragile nature.

b. Legislations should be put in place and enforced in the interest of the aquatic lives which is fastly declining so as not to go into extinction.

c. Government and the private sector should see that within these delicate areas developmental projects that have true bearing on the lives of the people are put in place as to reduce the use of water bodies as the only source of dumping refuse and toilets.

d. Fishermen and women in these areas should be encouraged by way of training and provision of modern fishing equipments as to meet up the demands for fish and improve their own economy.

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