Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Environmental Technology & Innovation

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/eti

The menace of the Geo-Environmental hazard caused by gully

erosion in Abia State, Nigeria
K.C. Onyelowe
Department of Civil Engineering, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia 440109, Abia State, Nigeria

highlights

• A research work based on interaction and reconnaissance questionnaires.

• A true representative of the environmental problems facing the Abia State that need urgent attention.
• It gives a clue to what to face in terms of remedy measures from experts.

article info a b s t r a c t
Article history: The menace of Gully Erosion in Abia State has been studied and evaluated and the results
Received 19 March 2017 of the reconnaissance and observation survey showed that most of the communities in
Accepted 22 August 2017 the state are faced with this problem. The present research has proposed methods on how
Available online 31 August 2017
to mitigate this Geo-Environmental problem, which included the use of slope drainage,
turfing, shotcreting, retaining walls, sheet pile walls, change of slope geometry, reinforced
Keywords:
soil wall, crib wall, gabion wall, contiguous bored pile wall, Geotextiles and soil nailing.
Menace
Geo-Environmental The state Ministries of Environment and Works should consult experts in the field of
Hazard Geotechnical Engineering towards putting to an end the menace of gully erosion in Abia
Gully erosion State.
Abia state © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

Gully Erosion has been a source of worry in almost all the 17 local governments and most communities in Abia State.
This has led to Geo-Environmental decay and loss of major roads in the state. Many communities have been cut off from
the major urban dwellings where they carry their farm produce for sale. Unfortunately, the government has not taken any
step towards the evaluation of the extent of decay caused by gully sites to proffer solutions to end this menace (Abdulfatai
et al., 2014; Hamed et al., 2012; Shu-Wei et al., 2013). Gullies start unnoticed most times, but end up washing farmlands,
pavements, and other Geotechnical facilities on its route, thereby leaving the environment in a state of decay (Nemes and
Constantinescu, 2011; Andrew, 2011). When this happens, the socioeconomic life of the affected localities is thrown into
disarray. This is because when farmlands are washed away, farmers whose source of livelihood rests on the farm produce
are left with the pain of the loss of their crops, road users are left to suffer the decay on the pavement facilities or in
most cases they are cut off completely from the rest of the other suburbs and urban settlements (Imasuen et al., 2011;

E-mail addresses: konyelowe@mouau.edu.ng, konyelowe@gmail.com, kconyelowe@yahoo.com.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2017.08.006
2352-1864/© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
344 K.C. Onyelowe / Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348

Fig. 1. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Bende LGA.

Nwilo et al., 2011; NEWMAP, 2016; Yoshinori and Makoto, 2014). Observation and reconnaissance survey of the major gully
sites has shown that Umuada–Umuetegha Nvosi road, Umuetegha–Umungbogho road, Umuhu–Umuehim road, etc. in Isiala
Ngwa South LGA, Bende–Ohafia road, Ebem–Okuno road, Bende–Igbere road, etc., in Bende and Ohafia Local Government
Area, Umuakwu–Amachi Nsulu road in Isiala Ngwa North Area, Amuzukwu, Olokoro etc., roads in Umuahia South LGA,
Umuda Isingwu and Okpara Square gully sites in Umuahia North LGA, Uturu gully site in Isikwuato LGA, Oboro gully sites
in Ikwuano LGA, etc., have been destroyed or completely cut off from neighboring communities or cities by gully erosion.
Geotechnical and Geo-Environmental engineering offer procedures towards solving gully erosion problems ranging from
slope stabilization, landscaping, channels and drains, etc. The main aim of this work was to study the erosion sites and
suggest possible Geotechnical engineering solutions to end this scourge.

2. Methodology

Reconnaissance and observation survey was the method adopted to evaluate the extent of decay caused by gully erosion
in the state of Abia. Data collected by oral questionnaire from the people actually affected in these localities were studied
and analyzed. Abia State is located on latitude 5. 4309◦ N and longitude 7. 5247◦ E covering an area of 6, 320 km2 with an
average rainfall of 2050 mm between its northern and southern ends. Abia State has a variety of land forms, despite the fact
that it is dominated by flat and low-lying land, generally less than 120 m above sea-level. The low-lying plain is the inland
extension of the coastal plain from the Bight of Benin. The central part of the state is characterized by undulating land with
many hills. The highland areas are part of the Enugu–Nsukka–Okigwe cuesta. This area has an average height of between 120
m and 180 m above sea-level. From Okigwe (Imo State), this escarpment extends in a west–east direction and, on getting
to Afikpo (Ebonyi State), veers southeastwards to Arochukwu where it terminates. During the survey, the following causes
of the gullies were identified (An-Bin et al., 2012); (i) lack of drainage facilities, (ii) badly constructed road pavements, (iii)
negligence to rainfall and runoff volume during the design stage of drains, (iv) dumping of solid waste on drain channels and
(v) wrongly located building structures as a result of wrong planning.

3. Results and discussions

For the purpose of handling, the identified causes of gully erosion in Abia State were labeled GE-Cause A: lack of drain
facilities, GE-Cause B: badly constructed road pavements, GE-Cause C: negligence to rainfall and runoff volume during the
design stage of drains, GE-Cause D: dumping of municipal solid waste on drain channels and GE-Cause E: wrongly located
building structures as a result of wrong planning, (where GE is Gully Erosion) and the responses from the affected local
governments in Abia state were evaluated in percentage. The evaluated responses from the eight local government areas of
Abia State badly affected by gully erosion are tabulated and plotted in Figs. 1–8. The figures show the responses based on
the degree of effect on the people and their socioeconomic lives. It can be deduced that GE-Cause A; lack of drain facilities
predominated with its influence on the environment, which was followed by the GE-Cause D; dumping of municipal solid
waste on the drain channels. GE-Cause C and E were of less effect except at Ohafia and Umuahia South Local Governments
where they recorded remarkable influence on the environmental response and the effect on the socioeconomic lives of the
people. This may have been caused by negligence to the urban master plan of these urban centers which has led to the
prolonged effect of runoff and flow through inappropriate channels.
 K.C. Onyelowe / Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348 345

Fig. 2. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Ikwuano LGA.

Fig. 3. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Isiala Ngwa north LGA.

3.1. Erosion menace responses at Bende local government area

Fig. 1 showed the gully erosion sketchy effects of the different identified causes A to E in Bende Local Government Area of
the studied state. It can be deduced that GE-Cause D; dumping of municipal solid waste on drain facilities was predominant
in effects. This goes to show that this does not only deface the environment but poses lots of geoenvironmental hazards
from pollution and emission of poisonous metal gases to the decay it causes on the transportation facilities on a daily
basis.

3.2. Erosion menace responses at Ikwuano local government area

Fig. 2 also showed the gully erosion diagrammatical effects of the different identified causes A to E in Ikwuano Local
Government Area of Abia State. It could be deduced that again GE-Cause D; dumping of municipal solid waste on drain
facilities was predominant in effects. This also goes to show that this does not only deface the environment, but poses lots
of geoenvironmental hazards ranging from pollution and emission of poisonous metal gases to the decay it causes on the
transportation facilities on a daily basis. And this adversely affects the lives of the people.

3.3. Erosion menace responses at Isiala Ngwa north local government area

Figs. 3–5 and 8 showed the gully erosion effects of the different identified causes A to E in Isiala Ngwa North and South
(Section 3.4), Isikwuato (Section 3.5) and Umuahia South (Section 3.8) Local Government Areas of the studied state. It was
deduced that GE-Cause A; lack of drain facilities was predominant in effects in the two local areas. This resulted from the
fact that the master plan of these urban areas was not fully adapted to ensure these drain and discharge facilities are in place
while developments went on. This poses lots of geoenvironmental hazards from misdirected runoff into the environment,
which eventually destroys facilities through gully development.
346 K.C. Onyelowe / Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348

3.4. Erosion menace responses at Isiala Ngwa south local government area

Fig. 4. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Isiala Ngwa south LGA.

3.5. Erosion menace responses at Isikwuato local government area

Fig. 5. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Isikwuato LGA.

3.6. Erosion menace responses at Ohafia local government area

Fig. 6 showed the gully erosion effects of the different identified causes A to E in Ohafia Local Government Area of the
studied state. It was deduced that GE-Cause C; negligence to rainfall and runoff volume during the design stage of drains, was
predominant in effects. This goes to show that this does not only deface the environment but poses lots of geoenvironmental
hazards from destruction of transportation facilities through gully head advance on a daily basis and at every rain storm. This
has to be checked.

3.7. Erosion menace responses at Umuahia north local government area

Fig. 7 showed the Gully Erosion sketchy effects of the different identified causes A to E in Bende Local Government Area of
the studied state. It can be deduced that GE-Cause D; dumping of municipal solid waste on drain facilities was predominant
in effects. This showed that this does not only deface the environment but poses lots of geoenvironmental hazards from
pollution and emission of poisonous metallic gases and carbon emission to the decay it causes on the transportation facilities
on a daily basis.
 K.C. Onyelowe / Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348 347

Fig. 6. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Ohafia LGA.

Fig. 7. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Umuahia north LGA.

3.8. Erosion menace responses at Umuahia south local government area

Fig. 8. Percentage effect of the causes of Gully erosion in Umuahia south LGA.

4. Conclusion

From the foregoing, it will be concluded that the responses from the people of the areas based on the effect of the causes
of Gully Erosion on their collective existence vary from location to location. This is as a result of the main activities going
on these areas. The areas within the rural dwellings are more affected by lack of drainage facilities; GE-Cause A and badly
constructed road pavements; GE-Cause B while those located in the urban centers are affected by GE-Causes C, D and E.
It is the duty of this research finding to suggest a more Geotechnical engineering approach to solving many of these Geo-
Environmental decay facing the Abia State and its communities. Researchers have shown that when the soil being washed
348 K.C. Onyelowe / Environmental Technology & Innovation 8 (2017) 343–348

away is stabilized to improve its mechanical properties, the ease with which erosion affects the top soil will be reduced.
Moreover, adopting landscaping procedures with concrete or stabilizing the slopes on pavement will go a long way in
mitigating the environmental problems facing Abia State. Moreover, slope drainage, turfing, shotcreting, retaining walls,
sheet pile walls, change of slope geometry, reinforced soil wall, crib wall, gabion wall, contiguous bored pile wall, Geotextiles
and soil nailing are the Geotechnical engineering procedures to be used to ensure that erosion menace is checked.

Acknowledgments

The data used in this research presentation were gotten from the people of the various affected local governments in Abia
State through their cooperation.

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