Environmental Effects Of Urbanization Of River Ajilosun Drainage Basin In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Abstract

The study examined environmental effects of urbanization of River Ajilosun drainage basin in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.  Data were generated on flood width, channel width, and storm drain dimensions with the aid of a ranging pole, tape measure and a piece of plank.  Also, 150 copies of structured questionnaire were administered on respondents who were also landlords of houses in River Ajilosun drainage basin.  The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, range and simple percentage.  The Student’s‘t’ test was used to compare the differences in the occurrence of flooding and erosion between the upper and lower segments of River Ajilosun.  In addition to these, photograph of some features were taken to complement the various data.  The findings of the study revealed the environmental effects of urbanization in the drainage basin to include increase in spatial extension of flooding and flood prone areas, increased erosion of River Ajilosun channel, and sediment pollution of the basin surface, indiscriminate refuse disposal/refuse sedimentation of streets and general pollution of the environment.  The measures suggested for curbing these problems are relocation of illegal structures, adequate implementation and enforcement of Town Planning Laws, construction of new storm drains, rehabilitation of the old ones and regular desilting of the storm drains among others.