COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AT AKINIMA ALONG ORASHI RIVER: ISSUES OF RIVER BANK EROSION

Niger Delta region is criss-crossed by many rivers and streams, and like any other delta, is built up by sediments deposition due to increase of flow velocity as the inflowing rivers enter a larger and calmer water body. River Niger and its distributaries at the delta, flood, erode, transport and shape their channels and the surrounding land areas due to the inherent soil characteristics. Most settlements are submerged during the annual flooding, and this hampers the socio-economic life of the people, limits agricultural and industrial developments in the area, leading to reduction of houses in the areas prone to flooding and erosion. The more water the river channel carries, the greater the stream rate of flow and greater work of etching of the river both in depth and lateral erosion, leading to the broadening of the river channel, and this is as a result of the combined effects of geological, meteorological, soil and human factors.