An Appraisal of The Effects of Sand Excavation on The Environment of Egume, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sand mining is a crucial activity supporting infrastructure development and economic growth; however, its environmental impact raises significant concerns. This research appraised the effects of sand excavation on the environment of Egume in Dekina LGA. The study employed multiple research methods, including surveys, expert interviews, and direct community engagement, to assess the extent of environmental degradation and public awareness. The purposive sampling method was used to select respondents and locations identified to be directly associated with sand excavation, and a simple random sampling was employed to select from each of the respondent groups, identified as elementary sampling units for data collection. A satellite image of the mining site was downloaded from Google Earth Desktop Application for the study in the determination of the areal extent of the sand mining sites (burrow pits), which showed the actual pits of the sand. A total of 400 respondents were sampled for the study; however, 389 were found useful for analysis. The study revealed that 52% go into mining as a result of employment opportunity, 91% because of the lucrativeness of the business, and 75.6% as a result of a change in social status. The findings also indicate that the effects of sand excavation on the people include demolition of houses, which is found to be 3.4 on the Likert scale and is accepted. Loss of Soil nutrients due to erosion of the top soil is 3.5 also accepted. The paper therefore suggests an urgent need for stricter regulatory frameworks, better mining practices, and increased public awareness to ensure sustainable resource utilization.