Vol. 14 No. 113-124 (2023): VARIATIONS IN PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS ALONG RIVER NIGER IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

This study elucidated the physicochemical attributes of water bodies in some communities across

River Niger. In-situ measurements of water parameters were carried out for Total Dissolved Solids

(TDS), Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Total

Dissolved Oxygen following standard procedures. The water samples were collected, twice every

month, from four different sites from August to December 2023. Samples were collected from two

sites (upstream and downstream) into white plastic bottles which were washed with distilled

water and dried, then were used to collect water from the sampling sites according to standard

procedure. The results obtained showed that the Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies

in the selected communities varied significantly (P<0.05). Parameters such as Temperature,

Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Total Dissolved Oxygen, Total Hardness, Transparency and

Depth were all below permissible limit (WHO) while Electrical Conductivity was far below

permissible limit of WHO. This study established that the surface water harvested from this river

for domestic and agricultural purposes is in a good stand but should be discouraged once there

are build up in the parameters. Findings from this study recommends water quality monitoring of

the river in order to protect the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem.