ABSTRACT
There are many challenges facing rural areas in Nigeria which serves as obstacles to the livelihood and wellbeing of the rural dwellers. One of the common challenges is informal Gold mining. Gidan Mai Wayo rural settlement experiences environmental degradation due to the activities of Artisanal Gold miners. The community depends on surface and ground water located around the Gold mining sites, which may have negative effect on their health. Consequently, this study assesses the impact of Gold Mining on Gidan Mai Wayo community and its environs. This study adopted quantitative and qualitative approach in data collection and analysis. Boreholes and wells where the residents access their domestic water from were sampled. A set of questionnaire was administered to the residents on their perception of Gold Mining. Another set of questionnaire was administered to the Miners to assess the techniques used by the Artisanal Gold Miners. Mapping, satellite image classification, checklist, and Chi Square Test were employed to assess the physical and social effect of Gold Mining on the environment. Findings from the research shows that pH (Acid or Alkaline) concentration were higher in wells and boreholes close to the Mining sites, compared to those that are not close the Mining sites. The research also shows that some crimes such as Burglary, Drug Abuse, Banditry, prostitution increased in the study area after the emergence of Artisanal Gold Miners. The research concludes that the activities of Artisanal Gold miners in Gidan Mai Wayo community has negatively affected the environment in many ways, for example loss of vegetation, Decrease in water quality. The study therefore recommends that other sources of Rural Livelihood such as; Farming, Fishing, Hunting should be encouraged in the community, so as to discourage the inhabitants from engaging in illegal mining.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Mining that is not officially recognized and structured is seen or described as Artisanal Gold Mining (Gwimbi and Nhamo, 2016). This type of mining is mostly practiced in rural areas of Nigeria and other developing countries of the world, where individuals, families or groups engage in various mining activities (Owusu et al., 2019). These Miners engage in Artisanal Gold mining due to slow economic activities and social hardship in their communities.
The Cameroonian Mining Code of 2001, Article 2, describe Artisanal Gold Mining as all the stages involved in exploitations of resources, with the aim of extracting Gold from the ground, with little or no mechanization. This type of mining is usually carried out in rural or undeveloped areas, and they do not use modern machines in their operations, they are basically done in areas where the total mineable reserve are not of large quantity or ignored by the authorities (Gbireh et al., 2009).
Artisanal Gold Mining definitions comprises of the following attributes; unmechanized tools, informal in nature, labor intensive, and poor economy (Hentschel et al., 2003). Precious metals, stones and valuable mineral are all found in Nigeria (Neingo and Tholana, 2016). This is why Artisanal Gold mining has long been practiced in Nigeria, bolstered by historically high Gold prices, a lack of viable alternative livelihoods, The uncontrolled reoccurrence of Artisanal Gold Mining in Northern Nigeria came at a price namely; degradation of the natural environment, lead poisoning of children in Zamfara, due to high exposure to elemental mercury pollution of air and water to mention but few (Ralph et al., 2018).
Artisanal Gold Mining has impacted negatively on many communities in Nigeria. It is argued that close to about thirteen million individual including women and children in thirty different countries around the world (including Nigeria) are actively involved in Artisanal Gold Mining (Ali et al., 2018). Artisanal Gold Mining relies on the desire of the miners who are willing to work in risky and hazardous environment with the aim of improving their living standard to propagate the activity (Bryceson and Geenen, 2016). This has led to several environmental and social problems.
Unlicensed and uncoordinated mineral Mining is the source of income for many rural communities in Africa and particularly Nigeria. This came with some negative impacts on the settlement and their occupants. Lack of formal practice and regulations in these activities has reinforced these consequences (Neingo and Tholana, 2016). Local and unregulated Artisanal Gold Mining has generated serious concerns on the environment of Gidan Mai Wayo.
This chapter hopes to introduce the research topic, give general overview of the topic and the structure of the research. The next chapter covers review of relevant literatures associated with this topic while chapter three looks at the methodology employed in this research, it will also state the various processes used to gather information about this research, chapter four is analyses of the data and lastly chapter five gives recommendations and conclusion on the research. It is the hope of this research to present a valid argument on how Artisanal Gold Mining affects Gidan Mai Wayo community.
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem
Mining has become popular in Nigeria and other developing countries because of the recent rise in the prices of Gold and other solid minerals and the difficulty with rural livelihood such as agriculture, fishing hunting and other rural activities (Fritz et al., 2018). However, the wealth comes at high price and it has been realized that mining affects the environment no matter where it occurs (Dery et al., 2019). Artisanal Gold Mining is a source of livelihood to millions of people in developing world (Smith, 2019).
Artisanal Gold Mining in Nigeria is informal, and not guided by the existing laws (McKeown & Bugyi, 2016). It is safe to say the current laws regulating the practice on mining in Nigeria covers Artisanal Gold Mining activities but does not provide the avenue for its formalization or a means of structuring it (Bryceson and Geenen, 2016). This form of Gold mining can expose individuals to mercury vapor if not adequately managed (World Health Organization, 2016). Mercury can also be found in contaminated waste in materials in mining sites (Salati et al., 2016). Acute inhalation of mercury can affect the lungs, which results or lead to respiratory disorder (Ogola et al., 2012).
High inhalational exposures of toxic substances from the mines can also lead to respiratory problems and even death (Mantey et al., 2020). Peripheral nerves and kidney can also be damaged (Ahmed, 2018). Children exposed to elemental and inorganic mercury toxicity can develop edematous, red painful, desquamating fingers and toes as well as hypotension ( Ralph et al., 2018).
The Artisanal Gold Mining activities are seasonal in their practice and migratory in search of suspected ore, this frequent movement of the miners makes them vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and other high risky behaviors (Mujere, 2015) Some chemicals such phosgene and others are the harmful gases being released by blasting during Artisanal Gold Mining, which is another consequence caused by Artisanal Gold Mining. The use of diesel and petrol machinery in areas without adequate required ventilation results to the exposure of humans to harmful or toxic chemicals (Esdaile & Chalker, 2018).
Artisanal Gold Mining is associated to traumatic injuries such as fractures, burns, impalement, eye injuries and in some cases physical dismemberment and they are usually caused by rock falls during explosions and unprofessional use of Mining equipment (Smith, 2019). Noise exposure from the mining activities is also attached to some health implications; such as difficulty in hearing, stress and heart disease (Ali, 2006). Noise may also lead to sleep deprivation as well as social and behavioral effects for example, persistent annoyance (Scammacca et al., 2020).
However, some studies by Bansah et al. (2016), Bose et al. (2016), Bryceson and Geenen (2016), Eludoyin et al. (2017), Domínguez et al. (2019) Esdaile and Chalker (2018), Farrington (2000), Gwimbi and Nhamo (2016), Haile (2017), Hinton et al. (2003), Hoadley & Limpitlaw (2004), Boateng et al. (2013), McKeown and Bugyi (2016), Obeng et al. (2019), Mkpuma et al. (2014), Mujere (2015), reveals how Artisanal Gold mining affects the environment and human beings directly but did not reveal how the Artisanal Gold Mining affects the physical and social development of the areas.
The people of Gidan Mai Wayo community depend on surface water and ground water located around the Gold mining site for their daily water needs. The process of extracting the Gold from gangue materials probably has a negative environmental impacts on the surface and underground water and the general environment. The Artisanal Gold Miners usually carry out their rocks crushing and washing for gold processing in the nearby surface water within study area. The soluble constituents of the materials usually infiltrate into the surface and ground water. Criminal activities in the study area are high due to the presence of Artisanal Gold Mining. Hence there is the need to assess the environmental and social impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gidan Mai Wayo community.
1.3 Research Questions
i. Where are the Artisanal Gold Mining locations in the study area?
ii. What are the existing Artisanal Gold Mining practices in the study area?
iii. What is the relationship between crime rate before and after Artisanal Gold Mining in the study area?
iv. How does Artisanal Gold Mining affect the physical and social environment of the community?
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
1.4.1 Aim
The aim of this study is to assess the impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gidan Mai Wayo community.
1.4.2 Objectives of the study
The objectives of this study are to:
i. Identify the Artisanal Gold Mining sites in the study area
ii. Evaluate the existing Artisanal Gold Mining practice in the study area
iii. Examine the relationship between crime rate before and after Artisanal Gold Mining activities in the study area
iv. Assess the effects of Artisanal Gold Mining on the physical and social environment of the community
1.5 Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis: There is no statistically significant difference in crime rate before and after Artisanal Gold Mining activities in the study area. Alternative Hypothesis: there is statistically significant difference in crime rate before and after the practice of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gidan Mai Wayo.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The main focus of this research is to assess the physical and social impact of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gidan Mai Wayo community and its environs, for the purpose of creating sustainable rural economy. It shall also assess how Artisanal Gold Mining affects rural development in Gidan Mai Yawo community between the year 2008 to 2019. The study area experienced Artisanal Gold Mining boom in the year 2008, which prompt the choice of the year as a baseline year to conduct this study. The study shall cover the entire Gidan Wayo community as at 2019. This research shall also consider surrounding villages bordering Gidan Mai Wayo community.
1.7 Justification for the Study
Mining has negative impact on the environment and the ecosystem at large, these environmental challenges manifest from excavation stage to the final stage of the mining activities (Omotehinse and Ako, 2019). Artisanal Gold Mining has experience rapid increase in recent years, the rise in solid minerals prices in Nigeria and the rest of the world and difficulty in other rural livelihood such as farming, hunting and others are the reasons for this explosive growth in Artisanal Gold Mining activities (Fritz et al., 2018). This type of miming is basically proven to be a destructive industry if not properly managed, all the components of the environment such as; air and water are not left by this environmental decay, it is also responsible for destruction of human and animal habitat, resulting to loss of biodiversity (Ali et al., 2018).
Liquid mercury is mixed together with suspected ore (Containing Gold) and washed thoroughly during extraction process, this harmful procedure releases elemental mercury to the environment, which is harmful to human health and the environment at large (Smedley et al., 1996). Occupational exposure to mercury has been investigated in several studies, but effects related to its use in Gold Mining have been less addressed (Álvarez, 2000). Artisanal Gold Mining exposes the Miner and the general population to some risks, such as Ergonomic risks, Psychosocial risks, and others these occupational hazards have serious implications to the environment and can or lead degradation of the environment (Domínguez et al., 2019).
The mining technique used by the Artisanal Gold Miners determines the nature and extent of the environmental damage they cause or create, they also pose some certain risk to environment in general, these risk includes but not limited to cutting of trees and digging or excavation of the land, abuse of natural vegetation and exposure of the top soil, erosion, air and water body pollution resulting from the use of mercury during Gold mining processes. With thousands of illegal miners scattered around the country, environmental degradation cannot be avoided (Omotehinse and Ako, 2019).
Artisanal gold mining is associated with many social problems. Reichel (2020) indicates that local populations are marginalized and oppressed, especially those from lower economic classes, by miners. Communities are exposed to chemical contaminants, heat stress, unsanitary conditions, malaria, prostitution, poor diets, drug-taking and alcoholism (Gwimbi and Nhamo, 2016). This study shall identify the relationship between Artisanal Gold Mining and increase in crime rate in the study area and also shows how the Artisanal Gold Mining affects the physical environment in Gidan Mai Wayo community.
1.8 Limitations
The focus of this research work is to address the effects of Artisanal Gold Mining in Gidan Mai Wayo rural community. However, the data needed for this study are response from the residents and the Artisanal Gold Miners. This research work would have been more accurate if the sample size is sufficient and previous research works are available on how Artisanal Gold Mining affects physical and social development of rural areas. This research therefore generates its data from base map of the study area, police records and satellite image classification.
1.9 The Study Area
The study area, Gidan Mai Wayo is in Katcha local Government area, in Niger state, North- central Nigeria and has its headquarters in the town of Katcha. The LGA is bordered by the Gbako, Bosso, Mokwa, Agaie, Bida, and Lavun LGAs. A number of towns and villages make up Katcha LGA and these include Badeggi, Katcha, Essa, Bisanti, Kataeregi, Gbakogi, Sidi Saba, Bakeko. The estimated population of Katcha LGA is put at 122,497 inhabitants with the vast majority of the area’s populace made up of members of the Nupe ethnic affiliation.
The Nupe Language is predominantly spoken in the area while the religions of Christianity and Islam are commonly practiced in the area (Mohammed et al., 2010).
Katcha is blessed with many valuable minerals including Gold, which is the reason for the presence of manning activities in the area. Trade also flourishes in the LGA with the area hosting a number of markets such as the Ndalada market where a wide variety of commodities are bought and sold. Other important economic activities engaged in by the people of Katcha LGA include woodcarving, animal rearing, and leather works (Ojukwu et al., 2016).
1.9.2 Population
The population of Gidan Mai Wayo is heterogeneous in nature, consisting of different tribes from all over the nation. Based on 2016 national population commission data, the population of Gidan Mai Wayo is 610. (National Population Commission)
1.9.3 Geology and topography
The structure and shape of Gidan Mai Wayo rural settlement is the same with most parts of Northern Nigeria, which belongs to the Basement complex. The study area consists of various hard Rocks, that is metamorphic granite rock. The area has deposits of gravels and stones scattered around (Abubakar, 2017).
1.9.4 Climate
As a typical middle belt community, Gidan Mai Wayo community experience a definite wet and dry season. The duration of wet season last for about 200 days, starting mid-April to the end October. (Onyekuru and Marchant, 2012). The harmattan (cold) wind ushers in the dry season, March and April is the hottest in preparation of another season. March records the highest temperature of about 37.1oc. Gidan Mai Wayo though hot, is blessed with moderate climatic conditions almost throughout the year. As a result of the climate being the tropical in nature, the sunshine duration ranges between eight – ten hours a day and ranging from about 30°c – 3 7.0°c annually with the highest temperature recorded in the month of march. However, the marked increase in cloud cover during the months of July, august and September makes the hours of sunshine per day, drop sharply to an average of about four hours (Pius, 2017).
The middle of March is the normal onset of rain. The middle of October to early November is the end of the raining season. Consequently, the duration of the rainy season varies from about 190 days to 240 days amounting to annual mean rainfall approximately 1,650mm per annum. The month of July to September records about 60 percent of the annual rainfall. The beginning and the end of the season is known for frequent occurrences of squall lines. This is a weather condition that is heralded by the occurrence of Cumulus-nimbus cloud. It is accompanied with high lightning and thunder, followed by strong wind and high rainfall (Alabi, 2012).
The humidity of the town rises everywhere during the rainy season and falls inseparably during the dry season within the town. In the afternoon relative humidity of the town cloud rise above 60 percent during the rainy season and fall to as 30 percent during the dry season (Idris et al., 2015).
1.9.5 Vegetation and soil
Gidan Mai Wayo lies in vegetational zone of Guinea savannah. The zone is mostly covered by grassland and trees (Agada et al., 2016) Urbanization in the area has seriously changed the natural local vegetation in some parts of the community. The most common plants in the community include; Filhu, neem trees and shear butter tree (Alabi, 2012).
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF ARTISANAL GOLD MINING IN GIDAN MAI WAYO COMMUNITY, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
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