Assessment of the effects of Mining on land cover change in Kogi and Kaduna States, Nigeria
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Kampala International University
Abstract
This study was conducted in Itaphe hills in Kogi state and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state, Nigeria to assess the effects of mining activities on land cover changes. There is a conflict between economic gains as a result of mining activities on land cover changes resulting in environmental degradation. Therefore this study was an attempt to fill the existing knowledge gap. According to Kibuuka M, (2012), research Gap(s) is a problem which has not been addressed so far in this particular field of study. This is because the reason for one to undertake a research work should be a lack of an insufficiency or gap in existence. In the above dispensation, this particular study has not been done in these areas before now therefore it is a gap. Three objectives were developed to carry out the study; objective one:- to determine the drivers of mining activities in Kogi and Kaduna states, Nigeria, objective two:- to examine the extent of mining activities and land cover change in Kogi and Kaduna states, Nigeria; for the years 1995, 2005, 2015. Objective three:- to assess and compare the effects of mining activities on land cover change in Kogi and Kaduna states, Nigeria. Research questions and null hypotheses were developed to support the research findings; Methods- descriptive and comparative design was adopted for the two mining areas under investigation. Questionnaires and face to face interviews were conducted based on the sampling technique. Data were collected, analyzed and the findings were interpreted as follows; objective one: the results revealed that the greatest driver of mining activities was availability of minerals with 46%, then demand for mineral with 42%, industrialization with 8% and increased population with 4%. Objective two, the study revealed that Kogi in 1995, the mean deviation 3.7681Ex104, in 2005 the mean was 1.8028Ex104 and 2015, it was 8.5064x103 for dense land cover that sowed 0.000 which is less than 0.05 level of significance, hence Ho was rejected. The same finding of sig Value 0.000 was recorded for sparse land in Kogi and so the Ho was rejected since it was less than 0.05 level of significance. In Kaduna the study showed that in 1995, the Dense land cover mean was 3.2182x104 but in 2005, it was 2.0553x104 with the sig value of 0.000 which is less than 0.05 level of significance, hence Ho was rejected. The study also computed the sparse land cover results and it showed the Sig Value of 0.000 for 2005, 2015, hence the Ho was rejected. Objective Three:- the findings obtained from the above objective , indicated that loss of vegetation was most affected with 78% , followed by Disruption of ecosystems with 14%, Acid rain 5% and soil erosion 3% . The study found out that that land cover resources attracted anthropogenic phenomenon (e.g mineral exploitation and industrial build-up) in land cover areas. The study recommended that strengthening institutional monitoring and planning frameworks would help to improve sustainable governance of the humid tropical areas. The study also recommends conducting environmental auditing and mitigation studies against these damages including regular inspections should be executed to keep these activities of mining under control as stipulated in Nigerian Environmental Management Act of no 20 of 2004.
Description
Dissertation is available both soft and hard copy
Keywords
Mining, Land cover change, Kogi and Kaduna States, Nigeria