Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Sawmills in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: Implications for Urban Planning and Environmental Management

Abstract

The development of urban centres in Akwa Ibom State has improved the construction industry's prospects. However, there is rising public concern regarding the impact of environmental health and safety factors, as well as town planning, on the industry. The unregulated activities of the sawmilling industry significantly affect its employment potential, economic value, and wooden resources for furniture and house-building purposes. This study investigates the sawmill industry in terms of its geography within Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, considering the consequences on urban development and the environment. With the aid of field surveys and questionnaire administration, UAV aerial surveys, combined with the GIS technologies implemented in this study, revealed the sociological and health repercussions associated with designated sawmills, dismantling within territorial sociologies, as well as many sociological struggles regarding activism challenges. The findings obtained through the ANN analysis indicated that sawmill industries, in particular, have a concentrated distribution centre in urban areas such as Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Eket, which are timber industrialised towns because of advanced infrastructure development. Some other findings noted grave environmental and health concerns, particularly concentrated on the air, noise pollution, and poor occupational safety among sawmill employees. Gender and age distribution in the demographic data showed a marked disproportionate distribution where male workers aged 31 to 45 dominated. Many of these workers were untrained in formal safety procedures and devoid of protective clothing. The research concludes that this pattern of industry distribution greatly undermines public and environmental health. The study suggests that planners should adopt a responsive policy approach toward ecological, public health, and other multi-sectoral spatial planning for construction, industrial zoning policy, further, active enforcement of occupational health and safety measures, comprehensive ecological monitoring, and preventative policy frameworks to achieve these goals.