Assessment of the Effects of Mining on Land Cover Change in Kogi and Kaduna States, Nigeria

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 H0 was rejected. The same finding of sig Value 0.000 was recorded for sparse land in Kogi and so the H0 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 H0 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

APPROVAL

DECLARATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v

TABLE OF CONTENTS vi

LIST OF ACRONYMS ix

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

ABSTRACT >ii

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background to the study i

1.2 Problem statement 10

1.4 Purpose of the study 11

1.5 Specific objectives 11

1.6 Research questions 12

18 Scope of the Study 12

1.8.1 Geographical Scope 12

1.8.2 Content Scope 13

1.8.3 Theoretical scope 13

1.8.4 Time Scope 13

1.9 Significance of the Study 13

CHAPTER TWO 15

LITERATURE REVIEW 15

2.0 Introduction 15

2.2Theoretical review 15

2.3 Conceptual Framework 19

2.4 Related studies 20

2.3.1 Drivers of mining activities 21

2.4.2Extent of mining activities on land cover change 25

2.4.3 The effects of mining activities on land cover change 29

2.5 Gap(s) identified in the study 31

CHAPTER THREE 32

METHODOLOGY 32

3.0 Introduction 32

3.1 Study area 32

3.2 Research Design.34

3.6 Research Instruments 37

3.6.1 Questionnaires 37

3.6.2 Interviews 37

3.7 Published articles 37

3.8 Validity and reliability of instruments 37

3.8.1 Validity 37

3.9 Data collection procedure 38

3.9.1 Before data gathering 38

3.9.2 During data gathering 38

3.9.3 After data gathering 39

3.11 Ethical Consideration 41

3.12 Limitations in the Study 41

CHAPTER FOUR 43

DATA ANALYSIS, INTERPRETATION AND FINDINGS !RESULTS 43

4.0 Introduction 43

4.1 The drivers of mining activities in Kaduna and Kogi states 43

4.2 The extent of land cover change by the mining activities in Kaduna and Kogi states 44

4.3 The effects of mining activities on land cover change 52

4.4 Discussion of Findings 54

4.4.1 Summary and discussion of the findings on the most important drivers of mining activities 54

4.4.2 Summary and discussion of the findings on the extent of mining activities 55

4.4.3 Summary and discussion of the findings on the effects of mining activities on land cover change 55

4.5 Contributions to existing knowledge 56

CHAPTER FIVE 57

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 57

5.0 Introduction 57

5.1 Conclusions 57

5.2 Recommendations 57

5.3 Suggestions for Further Research 58

REFERENCES 61

APPEDIX I QUESTIONNAIRE 70

APPENDIX II Time frame 75

APPENDIX III Researcher’s budget estimates 76

APPENDIX V: DATA OUTPUT JUSTIFYING THE CALCULATIONS OF PAIRED

SAMPLES T-TEST 79

APPENDIX VI: SPSS PACKAGE 87

APPENDIX IV: SPSS DATA PACKAGE BEFORE ANALYSIS 78