Church Buildings at Dema-Abbey (left) and Nkpokiri (right)
Traditional site (left) and Church Building (right) at Agbalamabie
Cultural boat at Dema-Abbey (left) and Agbalamabie (right)
Cultural artefacts at Agbalamabie
kings, burials or wars) and pot used by former kings to cook for Europeans can still be found (Plate 4.5.3.2)
Plate: 4.5.3.2 : Cultural objects in study area Source: Field survey, 2018
In all the communities visited women were reported to have right to inheritance or to own properties (e.g. housing). The key leadership positions are however male dominated reflecting the patriarchal nature of the communities. Nevertheless, women form an integral part of the leadership structure, taking part in community decisions processes. .Social interaction in the area is moderated by cultural norms or taboos as defined in each community. While some communities reported having no specific traditional taboos, others with norms/ taboos noted the following:
• Members of the community shall not engage in fights using physical weapons;
some communities such as Issile-Ojono Jumbo have a timeline incorporated into this norm, which is that no community member must engage in any fight from 8pm;
• No member of the community shall engage in naked bath by the water front or river shore;
• Cooking pots should not be washed at the river shore;
• Uncontrolled libations on graves is discouraged (Otuokolomabie);
• At John Jumbo and Nkpokiri communities there is this norm that forbids members from engaging in fishing activities at the creek when such is suspended for a time period; this suspension is usually enacted to promote growth of marine life;
• Pounding of pepper and beans from 8pm is forbidden (Issile-Ojono Jumbo)
Economic Profile of respondents/ Economic Livelihood Activities of the People Livelihood Activities
Results from individual interviews reveal fishing as the modal livelihood activity (58%) among the sampled respondents. This is followed by farming (36.9%) and trading/business (5.1%) in that order (Figure 4.5.3.5). Thus, agriculture particularly fishing constitutes the dominant livelihood activity of residents in the study area with the men predominantly engaged in fishing in the open waters while the women get involved in fish processing (including fish drying) and marketing. The NPC and ICF International (2014) report on Rivers State revealed that about 25% of women and 14% of men of Rivers state residence were engaged in agriculture. The fact that the study area recorded a higher participation in these primary activities is an indication of the agrarian nature of the area as well as the low level of industrial/entrepreneure development.
Figure 4.5.3.5: Major livelihood sources in study area (%) Source: Field survey, 2018
Crop farming is practiced in several of the communities visited and common crops cultivated include cassava, oil palm, mango, plantain, banana, yam and sugar cane. Livestock was less common but where ever it existed the local poultry and goat were involved, and these are bred for domestic consumption mainly. These livelihoods are not without their challenges or constraints; for crop farming poor yield arising from soil infertility and destruction by rodents
Fishing, 58.0 Farming, 36.9
Trading, 5.1
Fishing Farming Trading
(grass-utter). On the other hand fishing is constrained by river pollution, poor fishing catch in shallow waters, lack of modern fishing equipment and technology as well as inadequate financial investment and or inputs ( Plate 4.5.3.6).
Plate :4.5.3.3: Livelihood activities in study area Source: Field survey, 2018
4.5.3.4.2 Income Distribution
Income realized from livelihood activities varied among gender and occupational structure. In the main settlements where fishing is carried out as secondary occupation (by civil servants, informal sector operators, traders and oil sector workers) income received monthly ranged from N8000- N10000(76. 3% of the respondents) while those that earn between N10, 001-20,000/monthly constitute 23.7%. (Figure 4.5.3.6). However, for those that engage in fishing
Cassava farm (Dema-Abbey) Lumbering at Agbalamabie
‘Bush meat’ and trading shop at Agbalamabie
Fishing gears and lumbering at Otuokolomabie
activities as primary occupation as is common in the fishing camps monthly revenue varied between N15001- N25000 and N10000-N15000 among the males and females respectively.
The mean monthly income for the study was about N7780 a month, a value that is lower than Nigerian National minimum wage of N18, 000.00 per month. The focus group discussants revealed that income from fishing activities also depend on seasons; income usually realized at the peak of the rainy season can be as high as N70,000 monthly which can drop to as low as N10,000 at the height of the dry season.
Generally, the low earnings of the inhabitants given the mean income of about N7780 per month placed them very high on the poverty scale. However, this was not surprising because many focus group discussants rated the poverty level in the community above 75-80%. The result of the individual interviews indicated that 82% of the respondents rated themselves as poor (Figure 4.5.3.7). This was quite high compared to the national average of about 63%
(NBS, undated). Self-rating approach provides an important feedback on how people perceived themselves and this can go a long way to shape their behavioral orientation (Arrow, 2016). This high perceived poverty level they described make savings difficult;
about 92% of the respondents claimed they had no savings while only 10% reported that they were only able to save about 8.5%- 10.0% of their monthly income (Figure 4.5.3.8). This highly skewed savings reflective of a poor saving culture further shows their high vulnerability state and inability to absorb or deal with economic or social shocks.
Figure 4.5.3.6 Income distribution of respondents (%) Source: Field survey, 2018
<=10000, 76.3 10,001-20,000,
23.7
<=10000 10,001-20,000
Figure 4.5.3.7: Self-Poverty Rating among Respondents (%) Source: Field survey, 2018
Figure 4.5.3.8: Proportion of income saved by respondents (%) Source: Field survey, 2018
Work experience of respondents
Figure 4.5.3.4.9 shows the length of time respondents have been engaged in their respective economic endeavors. Specifically, 17.2% of the respondents had spent over 30 years, 13%%
(21-30 years ) 34.9% ( 11-20 years), while the remaining 34.9% have spent less than 10 years in their respective occupations The mean working experience of 17 years suggests some level of experience among the people in their various livelihood activities.
Very poor, 82.0 Averagely
poor, 18.0
None, 91.5
<21%, 8.5
Figure 4.5.3.9: Work experience of respondents Source: Field survey, 2018
Leadership Structure
The general leadership structure of the communities reflects a hierarchical model characteristic of Bonny or Igbani communities with the ‘Chief’ and ‘Community Head’
(sometimes referred to as ‘Amaopusenibo’) at the apex of the community leadership structure. This is followed by the ‘Council of Elders’ and the ‘Women’ and ‘Youth’ groups sometimes referred to as ‘Asanwo’ and ‘Eremenobo’ respectively (Figure 4.5.3.10). At the head of the Elders’ Council is the Amanadabo, who is usually the oldest man in the community and could be from any of the founding Burusus (group of houses). This structure manages the decision-making processes at the community level. The community head oversees the day-to-day operations at the community level; decisions are taken in conjunction with representatives of the other leadership strung i.e. Council of Elders, youths and women.
Any dissatisfaction with any decisions taken can be reported to the Chief who calls for a meeting of the leadership to resolve such matters.
The Chiefs are subordinate to the paramount ruler or King of the Bonny kingdom, known as the Amanyanabo. Closely align to the Amayanobo is the Bonny Chiefs Council (BCC) and the Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC), which assist in the administration of the Bonny Kingdom.
34.9 34.9
13.0 17.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
10 & below 11-20 21-30 >30
%
Experience (years)
Figure 4.5.3.10: Community LeadershipStructure Source: Field survey, 2018
4.5.3.4.5 Land Use, Settlement Patterns and Housing
The settlement pattern of the communities is largely linear except in Agbalamabie which exhibited some clustering in addition to the linear format/pattern. These communities are rural in nature and apart from Agbalamabie which hosts few tarred roads, modern health and educational centers, markets and drainage infrastructure all the other communities lack the urban amenities like tarred roads for vehicular transportation. Furthermore, the communities are highly homogeneous in terms of housing pattern and livelihood pursuits. Land ownership is largely vested in the community head, even though in some cases, families or individuals may own land. However, land allocation is largely at the prerogative of the community leadership; the process of land acquisition starts with a member making request to the community head who then makes appropriate allocation. Land use in the community is largely for residential purposes and farming only.
The dominant housing structure in the study area comprises sand-crete block wall, cemented floors and corrugated zinc roofing sheets. An exception to this was at Otuokolomabie and Alasiakiri where the houses were mainly constructed of bamboo/thatched walls floors and roofs (Plate 4.5.3.4.5.1) Compared with national characterization of houses in the rural areas of the country constructed with planks/ disused wood (0.4%), cement (40.1%) and earth/mud (48.6%) (NPC and ICF International, 2014), the study area generally reflected a mixed picture of houses built with sandcrete block and thatch houses. The large household size earlier noted among respondents suggests the possibility of overcrowding.
Chief
Community Head (‘Amaopusenibo’)
‘Asanwo’
(YOUTH Group)
‘Eremenobo’
(WOMEN Group)
Council of Chiefs/Elders
Plate 4.5.3.4.: Housing structures in some communities in study area