Post-Project Environmental Impact Evaluation of Ota Industrial Housing Estate on the Localized Environment and Environs in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In this research paper, twelve (12) consecutive weekly field-studies were carried-out within a study-period of three (3) months to determine the current baseline environmental data of the study-area—'Ota Industrial Housing Estate and Environs' by conducting a Post-Project Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) of the Estate's industrial wing on its residential wing—which was divided into three Catchments (Catchment 1, Catchment 2 and Catchment 3) in addition to Catchment 4 (i.e. its Environs) which is a proximal neighbouring community to the study-area called ‘Obasanjo locality’. Consequently, standard experimental procedures were engaged to determine the baseline data values of the selected biophysiochemical environmental parameters of the study area, which were then compared with the values obtained at the Control-environment [i.e. ‘Atan locality’ which is a distant community located about 15km from the study-area] and/or with the benchmark values/limits recommended by global and national standardizing bodies (organizations) [such as the' ' WHO , ' ' ISO , ' ' OSHA , ' ' ASTM , ' ' APHA , ' ' DPR ,' ' SON and ' ' FMEnv] for human safety. Based on the experimental results obtained, some of the inferences made are summarily stated below. Majority of the measured microclimatic, acoustic and outdoor air quality parameters are higher than the standard recommended limits and the control environment’s values. The Soil Nutrients' and Heavy metals' concentrations are randomly distributed. The predominant land-use type is 'Residential' while the least is 'Educational'. The predominantly occurring vegetation is 'Elephant grass (Botanical name: Permisetum Purpuretum)'. Apart from pH, Electrical Conductivity, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen( ) DO and Biochemical Oxygen Demand( ) BOD , all the other Groundwater quality assessment parameters are higher than the standards’ recommended limits. Thus, the industrial wing of ‘Ogun State Industrial Housing Estate’ environmentally impacts its residential wing and environs negatively.