CENTRE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES COLLAGE OLF EDUCATION

KATSINA-ALA, INAFFILTATION WITH UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR.

FIELD STUDY REPORT BY:

ABANKER ORSEER. D.

MATRIC NO: 16062944203

COURSE CODE: 130

COURSE TITTLE: LOCAL FIELD STUDY

LEVEL: 100L

SEMISTER: 1st

THEME:

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF KATSINA-ALA TOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS.

 OBJECTIVES

1) To examine the historical overview of the development of katsina-Ala town.

2) To as certain the weather and climate of katsina-Ala town and environs.
3) To as certain the Geology of katsina-Ala town and environs.
4) To as certain the Geomophology and soil of katsina-Ala town and its environs.
5) To determine the hydrological and water resources of katsina-Ala town and its
environs.
6) To assess the ecocogical problem of katsina-Ala town and its environs.
7) To examine the vegetal resources of the study area.
 OBJECTIVE ONE

From a historical penfacctive, there is no town in Tiv land that has double full accounts
surrounding its origins. The town which is predominantly located in the heart of Tiv
land, the majority ethnic group in Benue State has so many accounts about its origin.
These are given below.

In one way or other, two similan accounts go the town katsina-Ala was founded by a
prince by name Ala from the present katsina state Nigeria his father after the lathers
death as supposed by tradition left in annoyance with all his family and supports and
journeyed town south.

Moreover, one account maintained that he first settled at Tudun wada in the resent
Nassarawa State before reaching down to the present site, the other holds that he settled
at kwatan tunga settlement but continuous problems with the Jukum tribe made the king
of Jukum to advise him to leave and further south ward and founded a settlement inside
a meande of this river naming both the settlement and river after him, and hence
katsina-Ala town and the river after katsina-Ala respectively (Jyor tyer,zoo:z),

Another view holds that the name katsina-Ala derived from katsina-Ala, a name
given to the settlement by the early moslem settlers to distinguish it from the present
Katsina State. Because the Tiv population were unable to pronounces a & n
simultaneously ! they replaced those letters with Ala.

Furthermore, a fourth account holds that the town derived its name after its founded
called katsina who migrated from katsina north. That his early mornig wake-up signal /
call for moslem faithful populary known as Allah-Akban was taken as Ala instead of
Allah and consequently became the reference name for both the town and the river
whose bank he settled which has remained till date.

Once again, According to Lyam (1971:23) katsina-Ala name that is alien to the local
language is only and implication that the town was renamed by the tlausus following
their migration to the settlement during the 19th century Islamic invasion. Lyams
version has obvious controversies surrounding it and rather opens a chapter of debate
the possible origin of the town. For one reason, it is silent on the name katsina-
Alaitself which carries with it a collaboration of a possible founder, and Islamic
invasion.

Another version that opens a chapter for further debate is that the settlement was
founded by an English marchant-cum administrator captain Godlien mainly as a trading
center. This contention is evidenced in the fact that Godliens mission to boost trading
& commercial multi-national companies like: Jolim tlolt, UAC, the united African
 company, and level Brothers e.t.c. saw the building of stations for such transactions
locally called the Kenti.

Captain Godlien and his mera, upon their choice katsina-Ala appeared before and
where warmly received by the local chief, Tyoor Zaki Agaiha-ande of Kyurav- Tiev
districk who took then to Tyoor Zaki Abakume of Shitile and both of them got Tyoor
Chia Chile of Mbagen of informed of some foreiguers for good. The fact that the Tiv
people were already well, settled and socially organized in katsina-Ala prior to the
arrived of the white man is clearly manifested by the foregoing development.

Further -more, makar (1994:45) in this contribution on the origin of katsina-Ala

States that as far back as 18th century when the Aku Uka of Vilukari in the person of
Mamu Audu there was a raw in whose blaze, Mamu sent an expedition to check the
widely proclaimed Tiv encroachment on his territory this he did with the assistance of
the emir mohammed Nya who ruled between 1874-1896, consequently, four (4)
campaigns over ran and burnt katsina-Ala which was then inhabited mainly by the
Abakwa, Jukum and Etulo people and not the Tiv people.

FACTORS THAT LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF KATSINA-ALA TOWN

In one way of other, they are some factors the support the overview of the development
of katsina-Ala town. This are as follows:-

a. Security factor
b. Colonial factor
c. Education factor
d. Boat factor

Moreover, these factors have boost the entire growth and development of the town and
today one stands to conclude that the town has metamorphosed into a cosmopolitan cent
embracing virtually all aspect of life.

LOCATION AND SIZE

The settlement is situated predominantly on eastern bank of river katsina-Ala inside the
rivers meander in precise terms. It is approximately 100mm from its confluence with the
river Benue.

The settlement of katsina-Ala area is best situated in the north at latitude 37on at a
died point.

The town is on it geographical north boundaries with Etulo community of Buruku

local government, the Ikyurav-Tiev and Kpav communities of katsina-Ala local
government area.
 The settlement is also situated predominantly on eastern on latitude 90c

Where as, the area is boundary at the bank of the river katsina-Ala around machines
and inside the rivers meander in precise. It is approximately 100mm from its confluence
with the river Benue, it is thus a port town.

The settlement has situated in the southern and western boundaries are delimitated
by buruku local government respectively.
 OBJECTIVE TWO

To ascertain the weather and climate of katsina-Ala town and environs.

The area of katsina-Ala environs is micro climate K.T form within the area.

Koppen classified the climate found within katsina-Ala as A-W 12000 miriters in
quantity and average.

The World climate defines the average weather condition of a place over a long
period of say 25 years and above. The various conditions of weather range from
temperature, precipitation, humidity clouds, wind and sunshine e.t.c.of all above weather
attributes, temperature and precipitation are the most paramount and as such, the major
determinants of climate within any geographical entity.

TEMPERATURE

The temperature conditions of katsina-Ala town tally with the seasonal change that occurs
in the area which is town is a derivative of the apparent movement of the overhead sun
during the year.

Generally, during the summer period days have temperature averaging between
22 c-27oc while the willten season has temperatures averaging between 19oc-23oc.
0
 OBJECTIVES THREE (3)

To ascertain the geology of katsina-Ala town and environs.

Most of the N.W.E are Vivian soil. It is igneous forms and instructive form and they
are form by the action of volcanic rocks. The rocks are molten magemand and attack with
water.