Assessing the Impact of Mining Activities in Kwakwalagi Mining Site of Riruwai, Kano State

Abstract

Mining activities continue to be sited in mineral prone communities in Riruwai. Little is known of the environmental consequences of such activities in a relatively new and heavy mining area of Kwakwalagi in Riruwai town. This study used both qualitative and quantitative data analysis Riruwai town and has a total population of 11,411 people being the largest town in the local government after Doguwa town. A field survey was conducted to collect data. Random sampling techniques was adopted for the selection of the respondents for the interviews and published records, documents such as project documents, village profile, maps, photos, internet sources was used . A further checklist was use to analyze the environmental impacts of mining activities, and however a leopard matrix was adopted to analyze the environmental impacts of mining activities in the study, the area considered as very highly contaminated site. The study shows that a total of 15.55 hectares area is impacted by the mining activities using impact valuation matrix..Destruction of forest and farm lands alongside water pollution, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, air pollution and alteration of soil profiles, was reported as the main environmental impacts experienced by the people in these studied. Government, both national and local, community leaders, and the miners need to play their respective roles of enforcing regulation, promoting public education and practicing environmentally sound mining so as to reduce the rising concerns of environmental degradation from mining.