AFRICAN JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES

Plant Species Response to Coal Mining Sites in Kogi State

Rabiu Muhammed — 2026-04-06

Coal mining activities are widely recognized for their capacity to alter species composition and ecological stability. This study assessed plant biodiversity responses to coal mining disturbance in the coal belt areas of Kogi East, Kogi State, Nigeria, using species diversity indices as ecological indicators. Vegetation data for this study were collected using line transects and nested quadrats. A total of 48 quadrats (50 × 50 m) were systematically laid along four parallel transects at 10 m intervals across Sites A, B, and C. From these, 24 quadrats were randomly selected using a table of random numbers, with eight quadrats chosen from each site, resulting in a total sample size of 24. Plant species diversity was quantified using the Shannon Wiener diversity index (H′), species richness, and Pielou’s evenness index (J′). Differences in diversity metrics among plot categories were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results revealed that the control site (Plot C) consistently recorded the highest median values for Shannon diversity (H′ ≈ 3.65), species richness (47.5 species), and evenness (J′ ≈ 0.960), accompanied by relatively low variability (IQRs ≈ 0.180, 8.25, and 0.015, respectively), indicating a stable and well-structured plant community. In contrast, mined plots exhibited lower median diversity values and greater dispersion, with Shannon diversity medians of 3.59 (Plot A) and 3.51 (Plot B), richness medians of 45.5 and 43.5 species, and evenness medians of 0.938 and 0.955, reflecting heterogeneous recovery and ecological instability. However, one-way ANOVA results indicated no statistically significant differences among plot categories for Shannon diversity (F₂,₂₁ = 0.78, p = 0.472), species richness (F₂,₂₁ = 0.37, p = 0.696), or Pielou’s evenness (F₂,₂₁ = 2.48, p = 0.108). The study provides baseline ecological data critical for vegetation restoration and biodiversity management in coal mining landscapes of Kogi East. It is recommended that targeted ecological restoration programs be implemented alongside long-term monitoring to mitigate the impacts of coal mining on vegetation.

Employee Satisfaction with Facilities Management Services in a Nigerian Private University: Evidence from Covenant University, Ota

Oluwabukola Flourish Ogunseitan — 2026-04-06

This study assessed employee satisfaction with facilities management services in higher educational facilities at Covenant University, Ota, focusing on staff of the College of Management and Social Sciences and the College of Leadership and Development Studies. A quantitative research method was adopted using an exploratory survey design and a structured questionnaire. From a population of 199 employees, selected purposively because they are directly involved in or affected by facilities services, making them appropriate for evaluating satisfaction levels, a sample size of 133 was determined at a 95% confidence level and 5% margin of error, with 121 valid responses retrieved for analysis. The questionnaire captured respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of facilities management services using closed-ended Likert scale items. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences [SPSS], employing frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and the Relative Agreement Index [RAI]. Findings indicate that the respondents were largely professionally mature and highly educated, with 85.1% possessing qualifications above HND or B.Sc., 73.6% being teaching staff, and 67.8% occupying private offices. Awareness of facilities management services was generally high, enabling informed evaluations of service performance. High levels of satisfaction were recorded for car parking [mean = 4.00, RAI = 0.80], cleaning and waste management [mean = 3.94, RAI = 0.79], and water supply [mean = 3.92, RAI = 0.78], reflecting effective delivery of routine and visible services. Lower satisfaction levels were observed for termite treatment [mean = 2.84, RAI = 0.57], civil works [mean = 3.06, RAI = 0.61], and mechanical services such as air conditioning and plumbing [mean = 3.16, RAI = 0.63]. The frequency of complaints further showed that mechanical works ranked highest [mean = 3.55, RAI = 0.71], followed by civil works [mean = 3.36, RAI = 0.67] and cleaning services [mean = 3.11, RAI = 0.62]. The study concludes that while performance is strong in routine facilities services, improvements are required in technical and preventive maintenance to enhance overall employee satisfaction and institutional productivity.

Assessing the Contribution of Recreational Facilities to Ecosystem Services in Abuja, Nigeria

Sunday Maigida — 2026-04-06

This study evaluated the contribution of recreational facilities in Abuja, Nigeria, to the provision of ecosystem services. Twenty officially gazetted recreational facilities in the Federal Capital city, Abuja were stratified into three categories: Large Formal Parks, Commercial/Amusement Parks, and Neighbourhood Parks. Using a table of random numbers, two parks were selected from each category. A total of 462 questionnaires were administered to park users based on estimated visitation footfall, out of which 400 valid responses were retrieved, representing an 86.6% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The results revealed significant variation in visitation patterns across park categories. Weekly visitation was highest in Neighbourhood Parks (34.57%), while Large Formal Parks recorded their highest visits monthly (30.48%) and during festive periods (28.34%). Commercial/Amusement Parks were predominantly patronised during festive periods (32.58%). Nature appreciation emerged as a major motivation for park users in Neighbourhood Parks (64.20%), while exercise and fitness were most prominent in Large Formal Parks (51.34%). Leisure and relaxation were particularly dominant in Commercial/Amusement Parks (50.00%). Furthermore, the dominant services provided by the park in the study area were cultural services, which included sporting and leisure activities, among others. While other ecosystem services, such as regulating, provisioning, and supporting services, were significantly low and often unavailable in most of the recreational facilities. This was largely due to the non-integration of ecosystem infrastructure during the design and review of the recreational facilities. In view of this, the study recommends the integration of ecological infrastructure into the recreational facilities to enhance the provision of ecosystem services.

Geographical Spread and the Assessment of Critical Issues in Restorative and Transformative Justice in Nigeria: A Review.

Caleb Akinniran Akintunde — 2026-04-06

This paper examines the issues confronting restorative and transformative justice (RJ/TJ) in Nigeria. It described RJ/TJ as approaches in the justice system that focus on healing harm done, restoring the victim to their previous condition, restoring broken relationships as a result of harm, rehabilitating offenders, involving community members in justice delivery and the reconciliation process. The approach considers the society as a whole, and identifies problems inherent in its structure, such as inequality, poverty, broken homes and other defects that allow crime to thrive, and it seeks ways of resolving these problems to prevent the crime from occurring in the future. The paper explored the legal and policy framework of restorative and transformative justice in Nigeria. The paper also identified excessive discretion, punitive culture and institutional resistance, lack of cultural and historical context and poor implementation as some of the core issues that confront RJ/TJ in Nigeria. The Transformative Justice Theory and Braithwaite’s Reintegrative Shaming Theory were used as the theoretical framework to demonstrate the practical application of the RT/TJ in society. The paper concludes that if properly, fully, and effectively adopted and applied to justice delivery, RJ/TJ would significantly improve the justice system in Nigeria, and have a positive ripple effect by reducing the crime rate in society and increasing general development in Nigeria. The paper recommends, among others, that all states in the country should fully implement RJ/TJ, and the law should be modified to reduce or remove the discretionary power granted to justice officials in the application of RJ/TJ