The Physical Environment for Ibom Science Park
PHYSIOGRAPHY AND LANDFORM
The Science and Technology Park site is virgin land bisected by a natural water course running approximately north – north/east throughout the piece of land. The site contains variable slopes with steep slopes rising from the watercourse at about 12% - 18% to more gentle slopes of 5% - 10% further away from the watercourse. These slopes result in the elevation of the site ranging from 33m – 80m on the franks above mean sea level. There is a seasonal stream and a fresh water pool on the site, which provides nourishing for informal crops maintained by locals in the area.
Geographical Location and Size Top
The Science and Technology Park is located in Ntak Inyang village in Itu Local Government Area on the outskirts of Uyo, capital city of Akwa Ibom State. The site measures approximately 68.5 hectares and access to the Uyo – Itu highway to Calabar is close by.
Geographically, it is located on latitude 5 04.077 and longitude 7 55.730
The site is bordered by a livestock market (Nassarawa market) which is operating inside the site on the southern boundary, next to an abandoned burnt out mosque, a NEPA high tension power-line and proposed new Mobil Headquarters to the west. Forest reserve to the north and unoccupied government owned land to the east. Location Map
The local geology of the Science and Technology Park is that of the generalized coastal plain sands as shown in the Nigeria Geological Series Maps (1962). The coastal plain sands are of Pleistocene Oligocene in age.
The main geomorphic feature is the peneplained coastal sands marked by severe erosional features created by storm water release over the site terrain in an uncontrolled manner that cause the water to form it’s own flow patters, localized farming and other irreconcilable human activity. The Science and Technology Park thus has a turbulent topography, which presents numerous unique ambiences per square meter.
Generally the static water level at the Science & Technology Park is located below the ground level at a depth of between 9.0m on latitude 504.133 & longitude 755.869, and 9.92m on latitude 755.967. This level coincides with the clayey sand of the stratigraphic sequence.
The active water level fluctuates between seasons. There is a system with a steady flow of water from a source to the south – east of the park. It collimates into a pond at the north – central park and although seasonal, seams fairly constant throughout the year.
The surface soil formation over the majority of the site is of a sandy nature, with little if any hardpan formations. This sandy formation especially susceptible and vulnerable to soil erosion. This is further compounded by the sloping terrain towards the water course at the centre of the park.
Soil profile across the Science & Technology Park varies considerable. See figure 4-6 for geologic section. Section of subsurface material is in the following order.
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Organic Clayey Sand
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Clayey Sand
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Sand
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Clayey Gravelly Sand
Subsurface material are such that the overlying organic clayey sand are moderately plastic with plasticity indices (PI) ranging from 11% to 15%. The clayey are moderate to to highly plastic with PI in the range of 11% to 23%. The sand are basically non plastic. The clayey gravelly sand are moderately to high plastic with PI in the range of 11% to 20%.
There is a loose layer of topsoil, which supports the growth of grasses and shrubbery on the park.
At the time of compilation of this report, the Environmental Impart Assessment being done by others had not been concluded. Consequently, this section of the master plan is not written as it requires information from the E.I.A Report. This aspect also affects section 4.2.1 (environmental protection) of this master plan report.