Bello Moshood Asuku, Ph.D
Department Of History, Fct College of Education Zuba-Abuja,
Nigeria.
Email:mashbello64@gmail.com
&
Duniya Filibus
A Postgraduate Student, Department Of History And
Diplomatic Studies, University Of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
Email: filibusduniya@gmail.com
Abstract
Jema’a Local Government Area is located within the Nok area with evidence of human existence and their economic activities before A.D. Due to its strategic location, the area continued to attract people since B.C.This encouraged the development of different economic activities.These activities among others include agriculture, rearing of animals, hunting, gathering, mining, iron work and different craft works. Economic engagements remain important factors that sustains every society or people. The centrality of these activities from history indicated its undisputable importance for the people continual existence. History shows that economic lifestyle of societies including Jema’a Local Government Arae was influenced by the environment. However, the continued economic activities in Jema’a Local Government Area affected the environment and its inhabitants. The study therefore, focused on economic activities in Jema’a Local Government Area since 1976 and its negative effects on the environment with specification on mining and deforestation. The negative effects of mining and deforestation on the environment among others include pollution, erosion, Ozon layer depletion, reduction in the amount of rainfall, dryness of water on streams, and other bodies of water, and artificial pits and valleys. These in turn remained a danger to people of the area.
Keywords: Economic activities, mining, deforestation, environment and Environmental effects
Introduction
Economic activities are important aspects of human life. However, it has continued to pose serious effects on the environment that have become an issue of serious concern not only to Nigeria but to the entire world.[1] Mining and deforestation from history are some of those human economic activities that have altered the natural environmental characteristics. For instance, mining over time had led to a loss in landscape diversity which had characterized the land with mined ponds, pilot ponds, reservoirs, mined dumps and mounds thereby losing its aesthetics values.[2] In addition, water that had been a fulcrum of life’s sustenance from time immemorial had been contaminated due to uncontrolled mining activities. The wastes that is generated from mining activities had remained a source of concern as large quantity of toxic substances were released into the environment.[3] In most developing countries of the world including Nigeria, useful minerals were and are still largely mined using crude method that have been outside the legal and regulatory frame work.
Similarly, aside agriculture, hunting, gathering, rearing of animals which constitute more than 50 percent of traditional economic activities, deforestation is one of the old aged economic activities in most parts of the world including Nigeria due to so many reasons. It had stood and continue to stand against favourable weather conditions and patterns, protection of soil and food crops.[4] These valuable benefits of trees to the environment and humans are however threatened by the continued deforestation. Although, some scholars are of the opinion that the benefits derived from deforestation outweigh its seeming negative effects but others continue to see cutting down of trees without replacement as a dangerous path on the environment and to humanity in a long run.
Questions have been raised as to the dangers posed by the various economic activities, most especially the traditional mining and deforestation taking place in Nigeria including Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Even though, different individuals continue to benefits from these activities, however, the dangers of erosion, flooding, pollution, desertification among others remain short and long-term problems in our environment.The paper is therefore aimed at undertaking a careful look at the economic activities such as mining and deforestation and its effects on the environment in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Background of the Study Area
Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State is located in the North-Western Nigeria. It is one of the sub-administrative units of Kaduna State. It lies between the latitude of 9°11′ and 9°30’N and on longitude of 8°00′ and 8°30′. The Local Government Area covers an estimated area of 1,384 square kilometres (534sqmi) and has an average temperature of 32 degrees centigrade. The area has an average humidity level of 30 percent while the average wind speed in the area is 11 kilometres per hour (km/h).[5] The Local Government Area falls within the transition belt. In this area, forest characteristics are found along side that of Savannah.
Archaeological evidences has shown that the area had long inhabited by people. Elizabeth Isichei has clarified that studies of Taruga have identified the earliest known iron smelting technology in the region with radio-carbon dates from the fifth to third centuries B.C.[6] Jema’a Local Government Area has many ethnic groups just as the whole country is highly diverse. At the moment, there are different ethnic groups including foreigners. However, the indigenous inhabitants, people who have a very long history of uninterrupted occupation of the area includes Fantwam, Bajju (Kaje), Nikyob-Nindem (Kaninkon) and Agorok (Kagoro ). Also, other ethnic groups who had a long historical presence in the area before 1800 A.D were Fulani and Hausa. However, with the colonial infrastructures, most especially the railway line and its station in Kafanchan, the area began to witness a massive influx of people from different parts of Nigeria. Today the Local Government Area inhabited so many ethnic groups that includes among others Ogoja, Igbo, Igala, Idoma, Igbira, Yoruba, Angas, Tarok and Nupe .[7]
According to the March 21, 2006 National Population Census, the Local Government Area had a population Census of 278,202. Its population was projected by the National Population Commission of Nigeria to be 375,500 by 2016.[8] The Local Government Area shares boundaries with Zangon Kataf Local Government Area to the North, Jaba Local Government Area to the west, Sanga Local Government Area to the east, Kaura Local Government Area to the northeast, all of Kaduna State, Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State to the east and Karu Local Government Area of Nassarawa State to the south.[9]
Generally, Jema’a Local Government Area is located within the region that is commonly referred to by art historians and archaeologists as the “Nok Culture “. Archaeological discoveries have indicated that the region was long occupied by people since circa 500 B.C. with a known iron technology.[10] As shown by Elizabeth Isichei, that ” studies of Taruga had yielded the earliest known iron smelting in the region with radio-carbon dates from the 5th to 2nd centuries B.C.”.[11] With the passage of time, the region continued to be a home for many inhabitants demarcated and re-demarcated into locations to meet the human political or economic desires where Jema’a Local Government Area is known to be one.
Undoubtedly, the creation of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state as an administrative tier of government is historically traced to 1976. However, where the Local Government Area took its root was traced to the early 19th Century. At about 1810 A.D, a Fulani Muslim preacher, mallam Usman assumed the leadership of his fellow Fulani herdsmen who had fled from Kajuru(75 mile[121km] northwest ) and founded the settlement of Jema’an (people) of Darroro(followers of Learned man from Darroro). In the wake of 1804 jihad, he, MALLAM Usman acquired the flag which gave the Fulani settlement at Darroro, the status of an emirate that remained a vassal of Zaria emirate until the British occupation in 1903. From then, the emirate continued to witness series of political and administrative reorganization during and after the colonial era.[12]
Post-colonial Nigeria witnessed a continued reorganisation of local administration. The 1976 reforms in the local administration set a pole for the creation of modern Local Government Areas including Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The reorganisation and readjustment of the Local Government Areas in Nigeria continued after 1976 and Jema’a Local Government Area was readjusted in 1989 to have the present geographical and administrative unit.
A Conceptual Clarification
Deforestation, a term used to describe the removal of forests by humans, either for timber or to clear land for other uses, such as agriculture or urbanisation. In addition, forests provide food, energy, medicine, shelter and recreational facilities for people.[13] Akinbode opined that forest plays important roles in the amelioration of weather conditions and patterns , protection of soil and food crops.[14] These valuable goods, services and benefits provided by the forest are however threatened by deforestation[15]. Areola described deforestation as a resource process that involves the extraction of wood from the forest for timber, firewood and the making of charcoal. Alegre, Carsel and Makarim viewed deforestation as human activity that involves the exploitation of trees for either economic or domestic source of power for cooking, while Fuwape defined deforestation as a process that involves cutting down and removal of forest trees and other vegetative cover without replacing them.[16] The bottom line in all of the views by the environmental scholars is that deforestation is a concept that described cutting down of forest or trees without replacement which occurs for different reasons.
Artisanal Mining and Deforestation.
Economic needs are noted and considered as the primary needs of every society from ages. Thus became man’s primary activities.[17] As aptly captured by Claude Ake on the significance of economic activities to man, “the primary work, that is economic productivity, is the corollary of the primacy of the economic need. Man is first and foremost a worker or a producer. It is by man’s productive activity that he is to obtain the economic means which he needs to sustain life…Man must eat to live but he must work in order to eat. Thus, productivity is the condition for all other activities. …it is true that man does not live by bread alone. But is a fundamental truth that man cannot live without bread”.[18]
This submission shows the important of the economy and economic activities to any society or group of people. No wonder, Nok culture region was noted due to its early economic activities in Nigeria area. Economic activities in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State was first traced to circa 500 to 200 B.C. During this period, the inhabitants had involved in different economic activities including iron smelting technology, pottery or modelling and sculpture.[19] This shows that mining as an economic activities is an old-age activities within the study area which later became Jema’a Local Government Area. As the people continued to migrate into the region, different economic activities sprang up due to its conducive environment. This is in consonant with Njoku’s views for economic activities and its development. He opines that environmental factor impacts significantly in every society, no matter its level of development. And that in the matter of economic activities the environment remains key. However, he refused to submit totally to the theory of environmental determinism. To him, societies in turn influence the natural environment to a varying degrees. In his words; “the more technologically advanced a human society is, the more it can influence its milieu and less its milieu can control it. The reversed is the case in respect of a technologically underdeveloped society “. [20]
Cultivation of crops, rearing of animals, hunting and gathering dominated economic activities of the study area. Due to the nature of its environment, cultivation of crops largely occupied the economic activities of the people. Like other parts of Nigeria, from pre-colonial into colonial and post-colonial era, cultivation of crops was the mainstay of the economy and crops of different varieties were cultivated. These crops among others include yam, cocoyam, millet, cassava, maize, rice, guinea-corn, sweet potatoes and ginger. In addition to crops, domestic animals have been reared in the area. As submitted by Njoku, ” domestic animals have been kept in all parts of Nigeria since time immemorial. And one of the pillars on which the rural economy has been built for millennia is livestock made up of mostly , animals of cattle, goats, sheep, pig and poultry. “[21] Rearing of animals was and is still an important aspect of Jema’a Local Government Area and northern Nigerian economy as a whole. Many households were/are in the practice of keeping different types of animals.These mong other animals include fowls, goats, sheep, cattle and pigs. Before colonialism, the agricultural economy of the area and other parts of Nigeria was developed and the society firmly settled but gathering and hunting continued to remain significant among the people. This was possible due to the availability of flora that continued to serve as homes to different animals. With the discoveries of different mineral resources in different locations, people continued to move from other economic activities including farming into mining.
In Nigeria, like any other less developed nations, the economic activities were/are largely influenced or determined by the environment. Although, economic activities remain necessary to the people and for satisfaction of their economic needs but on a long-run some of the economic activities create negative effects to the same environment and its inhabitants. This is the case with some of the economic activities such as mining and deforesration carried out by the inhabitants of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State over the years. Due to resources made available to the people by the nature, they engaged in different economic activities that in turn gave rise to negative environmental effects. For instance, crude or artisanal mining and deforestation were some forms of economic activities that have remained with the people of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Though, these economic activities have provided the people with means of livelihood, but these continued to affect the environment negatively in different forms.
Mining: The case of mining in the region that later became Jema’a Local Government Area in modern Nigeria began long before independence. It was the mining activities that led to the first Nok discoveries. The understanding of Nok culture was due to the activities of miners and their discoveries from the mining sites. For instance, in 1944, a 2000 years-old terracotta was found due to tin mining. Also, in 1960s, additional sculptures were found at Jema’a by miners in the course of tin mining.[22] Since then, the mining sites continued to be increased in number due to the discoveries of natural deposits of different solid minerals in different communities in the region. Also, the demand for these solid minerals by the colonial government and their firms for exportation encouraged the increase in volume of mining. As noted, from 1980s the area witnessed a huge spread of mining activities which continued to affect the natural environment.
Mining is an important economic activity in both developed and less developed societies. Through mining, mineral resources/useful earth materials of sufficient quantity and adequate quality are extracted for human economic benefits. Since time immemorial, minerals of different forms have been exploited and used as raw materials for different purposes.[23] The methods of mining or extracting the mineral resources differs depending on the level of technological development and seriousness of the authority. The poverty level of the people of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State like any other part of Nigeria and a less developed society, made them to engage in different kinds of mining activities using crude method. For instance, mining in Godogodo and Antang villages in Jema’a Local Government Area over time became a centre for artisanal mining.[24]
Kaduna State is blessed with different kinds of solid minerals distributed across the twenty three Local Government Areas including Jema’a. These minerals among others includes tin, tantalite, sapphires and gold.[25] Jema’a Local Government Area is blessed with different solid mineral resources essential for economic growth, among which are sapphires deposited in Nisam community, cassiterite(iron ore), tantalite, columbite, felspar, and emerald deposited in Godogodo community, and tourmaline and other solid minerals deposited in Gidan Waya community. [26]
The Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State as noted earlier has long history of artisanal mining activities as far back as 1980s.[27] This was largely possible due to the discoveries of large deposits of solid minerals across different communities in the Local Government Area. In late 1980s, mining activities were wide spread in communities such as Gidan Waya, Godogodo, Dangoma, Nisam, Antang, Kwal kofa and Kafanchan among other communities. These economic activities of mining attracted citizens of different nationals such as Senegalese, Malians and Gambians into the mining communities. It is important to note that the Europeans were the main stakeholders in the mining business and the locals only played a role of supplying labour. And when the main stakeholders, the Europeans left these mining communities, the mining activities were almost abandoned. But the locals however, took into mining as an economic activties which remain an important and active economic activities among them.[28]
Deforestation: Deforestation is one of the human activities that is against the natural environment. Like mining, deforestation is an economic activity that characterized less developed economies. Deforestation is a concept that is associated with trees or forests. From time immemorial, forest or trees remained useful to mankind. This usefulness of trees or forests to mankind over time is seen as source of food, shelter or raw material for shelter, fuel wood, medicine, furniture among others. Trees are the oldest, reliable source of fuel supply, extremely useful and widely used as raw materials. It also played a crucial role in oxygen supply and absorption of green house gases (carbondioxide)[29]
Records have shown that the global forest coverage was estimated to be approximately six billion hectares.[30] But deforestation has caused the loss of a huge percentage of these forests. Deforestation is primarily a concern for the developing countries including Nigeria. As a developing country, Nigeria is ranked the worst with the highest rate of deforestation.[31] The rate of deforestation in Nigeria was put at 3.5 percent and 400,000 hectares of forest land is affected every year. United Nations on the other hand put it at 3.7 percent every year. In addition, the Federal Ministry of Environment put out the statistics that 400 out of every 1000 of forest land were deforested every year and only 26 hectares of these were reforested, then, leaving 374 hectares deforested.[32] According to the revised statistics by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, between 2000 and 2005, Nigeria had the highest level of deforestation in the world, as 55.7 percent of the country’s primary forests were lost. In 2020, the country lost 97.8 kilo hectares of natural forest which equated to 59.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Nigerian Conservative Foundation (NCF) reported that Nigeria had lost 96 percent of its original forest land due to deforestation. In all of the above statistics, it is certain that the environment in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State in particular, Nigeria and the globe is in a great danger due to the deforestation.[33]
In developing countries including Nigeria where deforestation was dominant, identified to be caused by different reasons or factors. Areola opined that in the past, forest or trees was caused due to traditional agricultural practices. However, in modern times, forest are in danger of being lost due to different kinds of human activities. These human activities include agricultural practices, bush fire, lumbering, fuel wood exploitation and road construction and red quarrying.[34]
The people of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna state like any other part of Nigeria had since been involved in deforestation. Although, the Local Government Area is not within the forest belt of Nigeria, but had a considerable and concentrated number of trees. Jema’a Local Government Area is located within the transitional belt. In this regard, the belt or the region has a characteristics of growing natural trees. Aside natural grown trees, there were considerate efforts by the government of Kaduna State to grow trees of different species. And many individuals were employed as Mallamin Daji, Forest Guard to ensure that the forest was protected not deforested.
The Jema’a Local Government Area, however had a long history of cutting down of trees. This probably was the reason for employing Mallamin Daji to ensure that both natural and artificial forest trees were safeguarded from deforestation. As a traditional communities within a less developed country like Nigeria, the legal frame work and regulations put in place by the authority never scared the people from engaging in deforestation. In this instance, both government planted and naturally grown trees suffered deforestation. The deforestation in Jema’a Local Government Area were done for different purposes that include agricultural practices, bush fire, fuel wood exploitation, artisanal mining, lumbering, road construction, sourcing of raw materials for shelter, furniture and carving work of different kind.[35]
From Kafanchan through Gidan Waya and Godogodo to Jagindi, and from Kafanchan to Kagoma was initially covered with trees. In few words, Jema’a Local Government Area and its environs was virtually a forest land. However, deforestation left the Local Government Area with scanty trees. This act of deforestation was carried out in two groups; one group, unorganised, was done for purposes of traditional agricultural practices, bush fire and sourcing of raw materials for shelter, furniture among others. In the early 2000s, the second group was an organized massive deforestation probably with the permission of Kaduna State done for lumbering and other purposes which led to the loss of trees or forest status of the Local Government Area.[36] This action in Jema’a Local Government Area continued to pose serious challenges to the environment which remained both short and long-term problems to environment and people of the Local Government Area, neighbouring areas, the state, the nation and the globe in general.
Effects of Mining and Deforestation on the Environment
As noted earlier, environment has much role in every human society no matter its level of development.This is notably in matters of economic activities or occupations of the people.[37] On the other hand, due to continued human interactions with the environment through various economic activities, it is always left with so many effects. The degree of effects in most cases depends on the kind(s) of activities and occupations of the inhabitants or the relationship that existed between the environment and the inhabitants. It is an undoubted fact that mining and deforestation, and its affiliates economic activities have negative effects on environment. With the history of mining and deforestation in Jema’a Local Government Area, the environment had been affected in different ways.
Effects of Mining on Environment
Mining is one of the oldest economic activities. Inhabitants of Jema’a Local Government Area, like those from every other part of Nigeria are not left out. In most developing countries, like Nigeria, extraction of minerals is carried out through crude method. In Jema’a Local Government Area, the crude method used in minerals extraction had been in place right from pre-colonial period. This form of economic activity continued in colonial and into post-colonial era. Artisanal mining, mining using crude means had dominated the mining activities in Jema’a Local Government Area. There had been little or no practical legal and regulatory frame work from authority to direct its operations. This resulted into difficulties to control or monitor the environmental violations and effects[38]. Artisanal mining, like the one carried out in Jema’a Local Government Area remained the dirtiest and uncontrolled, therefore, the effects on the environment over time is visibly enormous. Among the effects of mining in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State include landscape destruction, pollution, deforestation and vegetation loss.
Landscape destruction is viewed as a general characteristics and effects of crude method of mining like the kind of mining carried out in Jema’a Local Government Area. Artisanal mining is been carried out in different communities across the Local Government Area including Antang, Nisam, Godogodo, Dangoma and among others. The continued mode of mining carried for many years affected the landscape in locations where such was done. As a result of mining activities, mine dumps, mining pits, mined ponds, man-made lakes, pools and ponds of different forms and sizes were created which impacted negatively on people, and their agricultural practices. In some cases, the mining ponds acted as death traps for people and animals.[39] Since the beginning of mining as an economic activity in different communities across the Local Government Area, landscape destruction continued to increase as the volume of mining increased.
Figure 1: Man made lake(although dried in the peak of dried season)
Source: Adamu, P. et’al, 2020
Figure 2: Mining pits created during mining
Source: Arewa Trust Weekly News paper.
Figure 3: Miners draining water in mining pits.
Source: Vivian, E. L., et’al, 2020
Pollution is another environmental effects of mining, most especially the uncontrolled artisanal mining that had been going on in different locations in Jema’a Local Government Area. As stated earlier, artisanal mining is considered the dirtiest of all forms of mining thereby causing
pollution of all kind(land, air and water). For instance, the large quantity of wastes that were generated from mining activities had toxic elements. And these wastes generated were not managed and therefore, released into running waters and sometimes open lands which destroyed the original nature of water, land and air. The ground waters were not left out in pollution caused by the mining activities.[40] For instance, in one of the scientific research conducted by Vivian et’al in Antang, one of the communities the in Jema’a Local Government Area, revealed that mining activities gave rise to unsafed and uncleaned ground waters for drinking.[41]
Vegetation loss and deforestation are some of the combined negative effects of mining activities. In Jema’a Local Government Area, different solid minerals are buried under the grounds while trees and vegetations grow on the top layer of the soil. Where ever solid minerals are found, miners act to extract them. In cases where such solid minerals are found under trees or vegetations dominated area, the miners did cut down the trees or clear the vegetations. These acts continued to reduce the amount of trees or vegetations in the Local Government Area which impact negatively on the environment.
Effects of Deforestation on Environment.
Deforestation is considered as one of the acts of human society, most especially less developed ones. This is due to the associated needs of trees and reasons for bringing down trees. Deforestation, like artisanal mining are largely carried out in third world or less developed societies. This is because those societies have the characteristics of over-reliance on the products of trees for other economic activities. For instance, trees, before now had been serving as source of energy, raw materials for shelter and medicine.[42]
The people of Jema’a Local Government Area are not left out in the general characters of cutting down trees which had presented multiple negative environmental effects. The environmental effects of the long-aged deforestation were wide-spread and far reaching. For instance, it has disrupted the natural balance of the ecosystems which led to soil erosion, less biodiversity and changes in local atmospheric conditions.[43]
One of the significance of forest is to protect the soil from erosion. Soil erosion is the transportation of soil particles from one place to another by either wind or water(rain). With forest, it forms a cover on the soil(land) which reduces the impact of either rain drops or winds, thereby reducing surface runoff.[44] However, with deforestation these benefits had been stripped off leaving the soil to the effects of either wind or water erosion which had been a serious threat in the Local Government Area. [45]
Forest is beneficial to the Local Government Area’s environment in terms of soil fertility addition. Forest generally increases soil fertility. The leaves and branches of trees decaying to form manure which improves soil structure and prevent leaching.[46] In Jema’a Local Government Area, there use to be huge trees or forest which availed the soil its fertility. For instance in the words of Abila Unguwan Maigizo ; “the soil in the area was highly fertile and farmers around the forest needed no chemical fertilizer for their crops but now, one has to apply chemical fertilizer in his or her crops before having any good yield”. [47] In his views, this was because of the continued cutting down of trees. The leaves and the branches that hitherto provided manure were no longer there to increase the soil texture. This in order words led to reduction in soil fertility as a result of the continued deforestation. The beneficial influence of forest on the power of fertility increase on land by adding nutrients hitherto, was stripped-off[48].
High amount of rainfall is another general characteristic of forest area. Forest causes cloud formation and rainfall. The leaves of plants transpire thereby causing very high humidity and of course cloud formation and rainfall. This was the case in Jema’a Local Government Area recent history as the area used to experience high and regular rainfall.[49] However, the massive deforestation had changed the scenario. The hitherto high humidity and rainfall had drastically reduced. Although, there is no scientific records to ascertain the level of reduction but the empirical observations had proven its reduction[50].
Purification of air remains another significant benefit of forest. All animals including human beings need oxygen from plants for respiration and releasing carbondioxide for photosynthesis in plants.[51] However, deforestation in Jema’a Local Government Area over the years had drastically reduced this important benefit. This had left the air with much carbondioxide without considerable plants to absorb due to consistent loss of trees in the area.[52]
Although, changes in amount of rainfall and other environmental problems in Jema’a Local Government Area are not all because of deforestation but global climate change which poses serious problems on the environment in every parts of the world. The climate change is an environmental problem itself. It occurs due to the rise in global warming which happens due to the increase in temperature of the atmosphere that result from burning of fossil fuels and the releasing of harmful gas by industries. The climate change has various environmental harmful effects which include melting of the polar ice, frequent occurrence of flood, change in seasons, among others.[53]
Conclusion
Jema’a is one of the twenty three Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. Prior to modern creation of administrative units, the people of the region had involved in different economic activities including mining and other activities associated with deforestation. Mining and deforestation were beneficial economic activities long before colonial occupation. Mining was however, popularized by the Colonial Government and its activities. On the other hand, the increasing population largely led to increase in deforestation. Both mining and deforestation had continued to be important economic activities in the modern local administrative unit, Jema’a Local Government Area. Although, both mining and deforestation gave immediate benefits to the people of Jema’a Local Government Area, it has however, affected the environment negatively. These effects are wide-spread and far-reaching on land, water, local atmospheric condition, air, humidity, rainfall among others. However, serious efforts is needed as recommended below to forestall danger in the agricultural economy and general human health in the locality, by extension to the general human race because enjury to one is enjury to all.The effects of mining and deforestation is negative on environment and by extension destroying humanity. For this reason, below are recommendations to change the negative direction:
a) The National Orientation Agency is to be mandated to include re-orientation of the people at the local level on the need to preserve forests by avoiding cutting down of trees and also needs to encourage regular planting of trees. In this connection, local associations, organizations, religious institutions and individuals are to be given mandate to clearly tell their members at the local level the negative effects of deforestation and needs to change their attitudes towards indiscriminate cutting down of trees and also encourage them to plant trees.
b) Educational institutions such as Local Education Authority Primary schools, both Government Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, and faith -base and non-faith-base Private schools are to be involved in educating the young ones on the negative effects of deforestation and needs to avoiding deforestation. Also, the young ones to be enlighten on planting trees. In this regards, clubs or societies to be established in their varous schools to continue to educate the pupils on the needs to avoid deforestation, preserving forest and planting of trees as they grow.
c) The Government who has enormous authority to enact laws and punishing offenders be serious and stand to their responsibilities of ensuring that forests are preserved. In this regard, enforceable laws should be enacted at different tiers of Government including Jema’a Local Government Area. At the local levels, forest guards should be recruited and empowered with legal backing to arrest and prosecute the offenders, even if the constitution is to be amended.
d) The Local Government Area council should adopt a one month campaign against deforestation every year. In this aspect, the council authority should collaborate with institutions, organizations and individuals to ensure that the designated month is observed for its purpose.
e) Efforts should be made by the government at all levels to improve the general economy. In doing this, it would reduce the poverty endangered group to acquire other materials for shelter and source of energy. Also, this would make people venture into other economic activities that would bring less attention in cutting down of trees.
f) In the area of mining, National Orientation Agency should be involved at the local level to inform the people on the dangers of artisanal mining. In this regard, religious institutions, associations and organizations at the local levels should be involved in sensitising its members and other people on the negative effects of the artisanal mining in the Local Government Area.
g) Educational institutions such Local Education Authority Primary Schools, Government Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, and Private Schools are to be involved in informing the young ones the negative effects of the artisanal mining in the Local Government Area through different ways including formation of club and societies.
h) Government should come out with practicable modalities that would encourage the local miners to access and adopt modern and controlled mining method and techniques. The artisanal miners in the communities should be given opportunities to have better access to credit and loan facilities in order to acquire better training and tools needed for mining.
i) Mupport to be given to artisanal mining operators and communities materially and technically regarding safety, health and environmental standards. This would go a long way to ensure knowledge of safe mining and processing practices are acquired and to minimize environmental pollution. There is needed to bring out environmental guidelines to the local miners to ensure that mining activities do not degrade the environment. The existing environmental safety are to be ensured they are implemented at the local level.
j) Monitoring programme by professionals bodies should be encouraged.
[1] A. Y. Ugya, Ajibade, F. O. Ajibade and T. F. Ajibade, ” Water Pollution Resulting From Mining Activity: Overview Proceeding of 2018 Annual Conference of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology(SEET), The Federal SEET’18 University Of Technology Akure, 17_19 July, 2018.
[2], E. L.Vivian, A.Y. Ali, M.T. Obasi, J. N. Emmanuel, H. M. Daloeng, C. Y. Giwa, S. S. Watson and M. T. Yakubu, “Effects of Artisanal Mining on Ground Water Quality in Antang District, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria” Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Science (BAJOPAS) Vol.13, Number 1, 2020, p.169
[3] A. G. N. Kitula, “The Environmental and Socio_Economic Impact of Mining on Local Livelihoods in Tanzania: A Case of Geiza District, 14, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2004.01.012.
[4] Akinbode cited in P. P. Ugboma, “Effects Of Deforestation on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria” Abraka,. Unpublished Ph.D Thesis, Department of Geography and Regional Planning Delta State, Abraka, 2014.
[5] Wikipedia and GRS Google Map extracted 11, May, 2023
[6] E. Isechei, “A History Of Nigeria, Hong Kong, Longm,1984, p.43, Alo cited in S. Dauda, “The Unresolved Issue Of Resettlement in The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja:An Explanation” in I. W. Abubakar, F. Ifomase, and A. Philip, (eds) Studies in The History Of Abuja, p.102
[7] Adamu Audu, a farmer , 54 years Interviewed on 25/04/2023.
[8] National Population Commission Of Nigeria (https://nationalpopulation.gov.ng/and National Bureau of Statistics.
[9] Wikipedia and GRS Google Map extracted 11, May, 2023.
[10] S. Dauda “The Unresolved Issue Of Resettlement in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: An Exploration” in I.W. Abubakar, F. Ifamose, and P. Akpen(eds) Studies in the History of Abuja, Lagos, Bahiti and Dalila publishers, vol.1,2014, p.102, R.E. Ojo, A Handbook on Nigeria History From The Earliest Times to 1800AD, Abuja, Ollyprints Publisher limited, 2016, p.85 and Encyclopedia Britannica, extracted on https://www.britanica.com/place/jema’a, May 5, 2023.
[11] E. Isichei, A History of Nigeria, p.43.
[12] K. Shehu, “A History of Western Education in Jema’a, Division, Zaria Province, 1910_1960”, Zaria, An Unpublished M.A Desertation, Department of History,Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, 2021 and M.G. Smith, Government in Zazzau 1800_1950, London,New York, Toronto and Oxford University Press, 1960, pp.77_80
[13] P.P. Ugboma, “Effects Of Deforestation on Soil Fertility on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria”, p.15
[14]Akinbode cited in P.P. Ugboma, “Effects Of Deforestation on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria”, p.15
[15] P.P. Ugboma, “Effects Of Deforestation on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria”, p.15
[16] Alegre, Carsel and Makarim, and Fuwape cited in P.P. Ugboma, “Effects Of Deforestation on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria”, p.15
[17] A. Claude, A Political Economy of Africa, Nigeria and New York, Longman Nigeria limited,1981 p.1
[18] A. Claude, A Political Economy of Africa, p.1
[19] S. Dauda, ” Unresolved Issue of Resettlement in The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: An Exploration”, p.102, R. E. Ojo, A Handbook on Nigeria History From The Earliest Times to 1800AD, p.85, E. Isichei, A History of Nigeria, p.43 and Encyclopedia Britannica.
[20] O. N. Njoku, Economic HistoryOf Nigeria:19th and 20th Centuries, Nsuka, Magnet Business Enterprises,2001, p.5
[21] O. N. Njoku, Economic History Of Nigeria:19th and 20th Centuries, p.27
[22] S. Dauda ,”The Unresolved Issue Of Resettlement in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: An Exploration”, p.102, E. R. Ojo, A Handbook on Nigeria History From Earliest Times to 1800AD, p.85. And Encyclopedia Britannica, extracted on May ,5 ,2023.
[23] M. A. Olade, ” Solid Minerals Deposits and Mining in Nigeria: A Sector in Transitional Change”, Achiever Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.2, issue 1, 2019, p.1
[24] Arewa Trust Weekly.
[25] Kareem and Awao., Adekoya, Gadzama and Yunana and Banta cited in J. A. A. Zankan, I. Abdul, A. J. Mande, and H. A. Abdul, ” Livelihood Implementation of Artisanal Mining in Jema’a and Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria”, Africa Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, Volume 5, Issue 5, 2022, p.28
[26] Kaduna Mining Development (KMDC),https://KMDC.gov.ng,2023 and Also E.P. Kambai, P. Adamu, S. Saidu , et’al “Effects of Mining Activities on the Livelihood of Households in Nisama Community in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State , Nigeria”,FUDMA International Journal of Social Sciences (FUDUOSS),vol.2, No.2, 2020, p.173
[27] Mello cited in E. P. Kambai, P. Adamu, S. Saidu, et’al “Effects of Mining Activities on the Households in Nisama Community in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna, Nigeria”,p.173
[28] Arewa Trust Weekly.
[29] J. Wajim., Impacts of Deforestation on Socio_Economic Development and Environment in Nigeria”, the International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities invention,vol.7, issue 3, 2020, p.5852
[30] Bryant et’al cited in J. Wajim, “Impacts of Deforestation on Socio_Economic Development and Environment in Nigeria”,p.5852
[31] International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) cited in J. Wajim, “Impacts of Deforestation and Environment in Nigeria”, p.5852
[32] Balola cited in J. Wajim, ” Impacts of Deforestation on Socio_Economic Development and Environment in Nigeria”, p.5852
[33] https://earth.org/Challenges_facing_policies against Deforestation in Nigeria extracted on May 8th, 2023
[34] Areola cited in P. P. Ugboma, “Effects of Deforestation on Soil Fertility in Delta State, Nigeria”,p.39
[35] ibid
[36] Interview with Samuel Ruth, A Civil Servant, 40 years , Resident of Unguwan Maigizo Kafanchan ,on phone on 20th May, 2023.
[37] O. N. Njoku, Economic History of Nigeria:19th and 20th centuries, p.5
[38] T. Hentschel, F. Hruschka, and M. Priester, Global Report on Artisanal and Small_Scall Mining Minerals and Sustainable development (MMSD) Project Report 2002. This was also confirmed by a miner, Yahaya John in Godogodo community of Jema’a Local Government Area during a conversation on 21st May, 2023
[39] E. L. Vivian, A.YAli, M. T. Obasi, J. N. Emmanuel, H. M. Daloeng, C. Y. Giwa, S. S. Watson, and M.T Yakubu,, “Effects of Artisanal Mining on Ground Water Quality in Antang District, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria”, p.170. This was also confirmed by Adamu Sunday and Luka James all farmers and miners , 56 and 49 years respectively, Resident of Antang District and Godogodo Community in a conversation on 25 and 29 May 2023.
[40] ibid
[41] ibid
[42] Interviewed with Sambo Sunday, Farmer, 63 years ,A Resident of Gidan Waya Community on 20, May, 2023
[43] interviewed with Sambo Sunday
[44] S. A. Abdul,”Influence Of Forests On Environment ” An Unedited Paper Submitted to the World Forest Congress, Quebec City, Canada, 2003
[45] Interviewed on phone with Salisu Dangana, A Civil Servant , 50 years, Resident of Zikpa, Kafanchan on 2nd, June, 2023.
[46] S. A. Abdul, “Influence Of Forests On Environment” , An Unedited Paper Submitted to the World Forest Congress, Quebec City, Canada, 2003
[47] Interviewed with Abila Maigizo , A Driver and Mechanic , 54 years ,A Resident of Anguwan Maigizo Jema’a L.G.A on 15, May,2023
[48] Interviewed with Abila Maigizo
[49] S. A. Abdul, “Influence Of Forests On Environment “, An Unedited Paper Submitted to the World Forest Congress, Quebec City, Canada, 2003
[50] Interview with Shamaki Bulus, A miner and farmer, A Resident of Nisam Community Jema’a L.G.A on 02, June, 2023
[51] S. A . Abdul, “Influence Of Forests On Environment “
[52] ibid, and interview with Abigail Isah, Civil Servant, 42, A Resident of Kagoma, Jema’a L.G.A on 02, June, 2023
[53] C. D. Thomas, ” Climate, Climate Change and Range Boundaries”, Diversity and Distribution vol.16 , Issus 3, 2010
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