In the 20th century, there was a discovery of tin ore in Plateau State, north-central Nigeria, in large quantities. Resultantly, the large scale mining activities began in 1905. This operation created employment opportunities for the British in charge and for the local, resulting in foreign exchange for the then colonial government; the environment was also largely impacted. Large scale mining has ended in the state since about a century ago with continuation of unlicensed small scale mining conducted by unemployed locals.
Currently, local residents of the communities, like Ganawuri and Danwal, where the large mining operations were carried out has still challenged with the consequence of the previous and ongoing environment destruction caused by mining tin. The communities have very few trees as many of them were cut down to carry out mining operation. There are several abandoned mining ponds of about 50 to 70 meters deep in these communities. There are also heaps of sands, known as mine tailings, solidified by many years of sun exposure that punctuates farmlands.
Soil healthiness and productivity is compromised.
The negative impacts of these operations greatly affect crop yields of farms and, according to local farmers might discourage younger generations from farming. The degradation that is caused by many years of tin mining has resulted in more poor soil fertility. Nafiu Adewale, PhD in soil sciences, an expert in soil nutrition and plant fertility, and Head of the Inspectorate and Accreditation Unit at the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science Research, affirmed that complaints of poor soil fertility by farmers can be scientifically proven.
In Nafiu’s statement, mining have impacts on the physical and chemical properties of the soil. These impacts determine the healthiness and productivity of the soil. During the process of operation, there is the excavation of the soil which leads to loss of nutrient. An altercation of the physio-chemical properties of the soil means the soil is no longer healthy. Therefore, there is a decrease in organic carbon which in turn leads to lower yields. Properties of the soil contributes greatly to the plant growth, so when affected planted crops do not produce good yields.
NPK fertilizers, although efficient, cause soil acidification.
According to an expert, usage of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) fertilizers could foster improvement on crop yields. However, the exorbitant price of these fertilizers serves as an impediment for poor local farmers in the region. Also, there is a possibility that constant use of NPK could cause soil acidification, decreasing the soil’s pH level, causing the soil to be more acidic and affecting the absorption of nutrients from the soil by plant. More studies have been released, concerning the consequences of mining operations.
Five scientists from the department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Jos, studied the impacts of tin mine tailings on crop growths and development in Jos. Their findings revealed that mine waste has impact on the growth and productiveness of the common bean and other crops. These effects are threat to the survival of Danwal residents and other communities and indigenous groups in the state; each of the 8 districts in Plateau State has about 18 villages with people who are predominantly farmers.
15 identified gully erosion sites have been reclaimed.
Former Commissioner for Environment, Usman Idi, stated that the state government was deeply affected by the situation and was putting effort into reclaiming some of the gullies in the state. He added that there is an ongoing collaboration between the state and federal and the ministry of the environment to figure out ways of recovering the some of these areas. The ministry asserted that it has retrieved 15 identified gully erosion sites in Plateau State, with reclamation working in progress in many of them.
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Mining environmental impacts in Plateau State – Many past decades of large-scale mining still have effect on soil fertility. – Express your point of view.
Mining in Plateaue should have a positive impact on the state. There is need to ensure their environment is also well taken care of. It should help them generate more revenues too.
The impact of mining in Plateau state is making their farm land unfit for farming. It will be advisable for government to intervene to resolve the unfertile land cases.
Mining in plateau state should have good for them taking care of their environment is important so it can serve other purpose too but if the soil unfertile it can not be used for any other thing
mining still have effect on soil fertility it should not happen mining should not be affecting the fertility if the soil this environment need to be keep safe move should be dome to reclaim them
Supposedly large mining operations carried out in the communities across the state are yielding huge resources, so the communities should not be neglected when they encounter environmental issue like this. The government is ought to come through for them.
Mining should be done well for betterment state and the country. Through mining we can generate more revenue for The country through mining
Mining environmental impacts in Plateau State. Good to hear but they need to keep the environment clean up instead destroy the land for the people
Mining in Plateau state has resulted in significant environmental impacts, including land degradation, water pollution, air pollution, and deforestation. It is essential for the government to put in place regulatory measures to mitigate the negative impacts of mining on the environment and ensure sustainable mining practices that are environmentally friendly.