Groundwater potentials in Kaura and its environs were undertaken in the crystalline hydrogeological province of northern Nigeria belonging to the Younger Granite and Basement Complex suites using geological, hydrogeological and geophysical studies. Configuration map of groundwater table and directions of flow shows that the Kagoro Hills is the major recharge area. It discharges water to all parts of the study area. Interpretations of vertical electrical sounding curves obtained in the study area suggest that the subsurface layering ranges from 3-5 layers. Typical curve types obtained include H, KH and HK. Results obtained from this research show that the fractured aquifers have 95% productive wells. They are associated mainly with Newer Basalts, although metamorphic terrains also yield moderate amount of water because of the significant thickness of the overburden aquifer. The poorest in terms of borehole yield are the Younger granite terrains with their thin overburden aquifers of a maximum of 10 m. The average aquifer parameters of the twenty (20) recently drilled boreholes consist of yield 55.728 m/3 hr, static water level of 6.15 m, average drawdown of 10.40 m, average specific capacity of 7.139 m3 hr/m and average depth of 31 m. High yields/groundwater potentials were observed in Newer Basalt terrains. Three aquifer types based on the rock types were identified namely: overburden aquifer, Newer Basalt aquifer and the weathered/fractured aquifer, but hydrogeologically two major aquifers were encountered. These are the soft overburden aquifer and the weathered/fractured aquifer which are also interconnected.

Groundwater exploration in the hard rock terrain of Nigeria primarily focused on the extent and type of the weathered mantle and fracturing. Fractures are lineaments in the subsurface which host a lot of mineral resources and groundwater. The present study is aimed at detecting fractures that were caused by recent tectonic activities around Lupma Hill in Paikoro Local Government area of Niger State, Central Nigeria. The tremor was reported to have a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter’s scale. The lateral extent of this fracturing was estimated to be about 400m. A combination of detailed geologic mapping and Radial Geoelectric Sounding Techniques were utilised to characterise the subsurface structural trends. The area is composed primarily of granitic rocks. These rocks occur as outcrops, hills and ridges. Joint directions observed on outcrops were measured, plotted as a Rosette diagram and revealed a predominant NE-SW trend. Radial geoelectric sounding was done using Schlumberger array configuration in three different orientations: 0°, 060° and 120° to a depth of 80m to obtain apparent resistivity values. Apparent resistivity values were plotted along three azimuths; 0°, 060° and 120° to obtain electrical resistivity anisotropy polygons. The sounding data were interpreted using WINRESIST software. Analysis of electrical resistivity anisotropy polygons indicated that fractures detected at shallow depths are oriented in NE-SW direction and at greater depths, fractures are oriented in the N-S direction. These results are similar to results obtained from the plot of the Rosette diagram. Generally, three geoelectric layers, consisting of thin topsoil, whose depth values range from 1 m to 3 m, and resistivity values ranging from 5Ωm - 63 Ωm, weathered mantle, whose depth values range from 3 m to 19 m and resistivity values ranging from 10Ωm - 512Ωm and finally, fresh basement having resistivity ranging from 200Ωm - 1539Ωm were found. These sets of results greatly favour groundwater development in the area. The use of Radial Geoelectric Sounding methods of investigating the subsurface with a combination of geologic mapping for unravelling fractures in the Basement Complex terrain has proven to be a very useful contribution in groundwater exploration in the Basement Complex.

Aquaculture plays a vital role in global food security, necessitating advanced methodologies for water quality monitoring to ensure the sustainable and healthy growth of aquatic organisms. Conventional monitoring methods have proven labour-intensive, time-consuming, and lacking real-time data acquisition. To address these challenges, our research integrates popular IoT platforms, such as ThingSpeak, along with Virtuino, Arduino, and an array of sensors measuring temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, and ammonia levels. This comprehensive sensor array provides a thorough overview of the aquatic environment. By harnessing IoT technology, our system enables continuous and remote monitoring, offering real-time data access via the internet. This not only reduces the need for physical presence but also allows for immediate responses to deviations from optimal water quality parameters. The integration of IoT technology significantly enhances the reliability and accuracy of water quality measurements, achieving over 89% accuracy. The implementation of this IoT-based system presents a groundbreaking approach to aquaculture water quality management, providing a sustainable solution that promotes the well-being of aquatic organisms and supports the growth of the aquaculture industry. This research offers a practical and implementable solution to overcome the shortcomings of traditional monitoring methods. This technological framework aligns with the demands of modern aquaculture, contributing to the ongoing discourse on sustainable aquaculture practices.

The susceptibility of groundwater within Paiko and its environs to pollution has increased due to increasing population, mining and agricultural activities. Hydrogeochemical studies of the area were carried out to assess the quality status, classify, and determine the hydrogeochemical processes of the groundwater in the area. Groundwater physical characteristics were analysed in the field with a hatch kit while the cations and anions were analysed in the laboratory with Micro-Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy and Ion Chromatography respectively. 39% of the groundwater within the studied area was acidic, 11% of EC and, 10% of Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) were above the acceptable limits. The most abundant cations and anions were Ca2+ and SO4 2- respectively. Mg2+, Al3+, As+, and Hg2+ values were higher than the acceptable limits in all samples while Pb2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, K+, Mn2+, and SO4 2- values were higher than acceptable limits in some samples. The presence of these parameters above the acceptable limits in the groundwater of the area was attributed to geogenic and anthropogenic activities. Other parameters were within the acceptable limits except for Co2+, and V3+ which have no base for comparison. The groundwater within the area can be classified as fresh with TDS values. Four hydrochemical water types (such as Mixed (Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl), Ca-Cl, Na-Cl and Mg-HCO3) were identified by this study. Silicate weathering and reverse ion exchange are the major processes that control the hydrogeochemistry of the groundwater in the area. Treatment of groundwater in the area with some local materials has been suggested.