The Ontogeny and Mitigation of Gully Erosion in the Coastal Plain Sands of Uyo, Southeastern Nigeria: A Comparative Field Assessment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21561434Keywords:
Ontogeny, Mitigation, Gully Erosion, Coastal Plain Sands, Uyo, South South NigeriaAbstract
Gully erosion constitutes a major environmental challenge in southeastern Nigeria, particularly within the coastal plain sands of Uyo where fragile soil conditions, intense rainfall, and rapid urbanization interact to accelerate land degradation. This study investigates the ontogeny (developmental stages), spatial dynamics, driving factors, and mitigation of gully erosion through a comparative field assessment. A mixed-method approach was adopted, integrating field measurements, geospatial techniques, and a survey of 350 sampled observations across ten locations. Findings reveal that gully erosion in the study area is predominantly in advanced stages, with 60% of observed gullies classified as mature or advanced, indicating extensive geomorphic development and persistent erosion processes. The study identifies high rainfall intensity (100%) and sandy soils (88.6%) as primary natural drivers, while poor drainage systems (78.9%), deforestation (70.9%), and urbanization (63.1%) significantly intensify erosion. Spatial analysis shows a higher concentration of gullies in urban (45.1%) and peri-urban (32.0%) areas, underscoring the influence of land-use change. Morphological characteristics indicate deep (mean: 4.8 m), wide (7.3 m), and elongated (56.2 m) gullies, reflecting both vertical incision and lateral expansion. Although engineering measures are the most common mitigation approach (40%), their effectiveness is limited, with 40% rated as poorly effective due to inadequate design, maintenance, and lack of integration. The study highlights a strong preference for sustainable strategies, including improved drainage, afforestation, and integrated watershed management. It concludes that gully erosion in Uyo is a dynamic and human-amplified process requiring holistic, context-specific, and multi-scalar interventions. The research contributes to improved understanding of erosion dynamics and provides a basis for sustainable land management and policy development in coastal plain environments.
References
Abraham, C.M., Jimmy, U, Osogi, M.A & Bassey, I.O (2024).Sustainable Geo-Textile, Gully Rehabilitation, Environmental Monitoring in Uyo Urban, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. IIARD. International Journal of Geography and Environmental Management. 10(12): pg 117-140. DOI: 10.56201/ijgem.v10no12.2024.
Aigbadon, G. O., Agbasi, O. E., & Ifabiyi, I. P. (2021). Gully erosion susceptibility assessment using geospatial techniques in southeastern Nigeria. Environmental Earth Sciences, 80(12), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09658-2
Ebong, M.S, Udoh, I.J., Jimmy, U. J., Akpan, A.N., Itohowo, S & Idio, E.E (2025).Geo-Spatial Analysis of Land Use- Land Cover Changes in Coastal Wetlands of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences. 16 (2). 19-30
Egboka, B. C. E., & Okpoko, E. I. (1984). Gully erosion in the Agulu–Nanka region of Anambra State, Nigeria. In F. El-Baz (Ed.), Environmental Remote Sensing Applications (pp. 335–347). Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.
Egboka, B. C. E., & Okpoko, E. I. (1985). Gully erosion in the Agulu–Nanka region of Anambra State, Nigeria. In F. El-Baz & M. H. A. Hassan (Eds.), Environmental Remote Sensing and Resource Evaluation (pp. 335–347). Springer.
Egbueri, J. C., Unigwe, C. O., & Onwuka, O. S. (2021). Spatial assessment of gully erosion susceptibility using GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis in southeastern Nigeria. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 193(9), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09366-4
Igwe, C. A. (2012). Gully erosion in southeastern Nigeria: Roles of soil properties and environmental factors. University of Nigeria Press.
Imoh, Ukpong, Abraham, C.M., Udoh, W.M Udofia, N & Jimmy, U.J., (2025). Forest Resources Extraction, Indigenous Livelihood and Sustainability Dilemma in Tropical Africa: Case Study of Akwa Ibom State. Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 10(4) 155-162, UAE
Jimmy UJ, Abraham CM, Osogi MA and Chrysoula Pantsi. (2025).In-depth Analysis of Channel Dynamics and Hydraulic Geometry in Anyang Sub-Catchment, Kwa Iboe River Basin, Nigeria. Adv in Hydro & Meteorol. USA. 3(1): 2025. AHM.MS.ID.000553. Page 7 of 11 DOI: 10.33552/AHM.2025.03.000553
Jimmy, U.J., Akpan, J.W., Osogi, M.A., Asuquo, J.B., Emmanuel, A.O & Tom, E.J (2025).Mitigating Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect through Street Greening in Calabar Municipality. Challenges and Way forward. Iconic Research and Engineering Journals. India. 8(10) 1349-1356.
Konana, C., Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., & Frankl, A. (2017). Gully development and controlling factors in tropical environments: Evidence from East Africa. Catena, 153, 19–30.
Nyssen, J., Poesen, J., Moeyersons, J., Deckers, J., Haile, M., & Lang, A. (2006). Human impact on the environment in the Ethiopian and Eritrean Highlands: A state-of-the-art review. Earth-Science Reviews, 64(3–4), 273–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0012-8252(03)00078-3
Poesen, J., Vanwalleghem, T., de Luna, E., Knapen, A., Verstraeten, G., & de Vente, J. (2015). Gully erosion: Procedures to adopt when modelling soil erosion in landscapes affected by gullying. Progress in Physical Geography, 39(5), 659–690. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309133315596133
Uno, A.U., Ozoh, S.I., Ekanemesang, A.S & Jimmy, U.J (2026) Evaluating the Ecological Relevance of Open Green Space and Associated Challenges in Uyo Urban, Akwa Ibom State. EIRA Journal of Arts, Law and Educational Sciences, India. 2(3), 32–42.
Zhang, H., Li, Z., Wang, Y., & Liu, G. (2021). Morphological evolution and controlling factors of gully erosion on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Catena, 196, 104873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104873
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abraham, C.M., Williams, S.C, Igomah, M.M., Hanson, E.A., Ukoete, D.D., Etim, T.C., Okwoko, J.F., Jones, G.M., Okor, D.E., Udoumoh, N.F., Inyang, I.E., Jimmy, U.J (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (CC BY 4.0 deed)
