GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF QUARRY ACTIVITIES IN MPAPE DISTRICT, ABUJA NIGERIA

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GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF QUARRY ACTIVITIES IN MPAPE DISTRICT, ABUJA NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Quarryinghas diversifying effects on the environment and human activities as most of these quarry are located within residential areas especially around Mpape community of Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja and environs. Their operations are obviously not been carried out with world best practices. The study is aimed at carrying out spatio-temporal analysis of quarrying sites within Mpape District Abuja, Nigeria.The study employed remote sensing and GIS techniques to analysis the spatial locations and geometric characteristics of the quarries. Conventional surveying technique with the use of GNSS receivers in differential mode was used to obtain data of the sites. IKONOS and Landsat 2005 and 2015 imageries were also used. In addition, spot heightens were acquired using TCX converter v20.30 and were densified with ASTERDEM (30m resolution void-free). ArcGIS v10.1 Desktop and ENVI v5.1 environments were used to processed and analyzed data. Three abandonedquarries (Julius Berger, Crush rock and Dantata) and six are active (Arab Contractors, Pongyum, Leenford, Perfect stone, Exsamine 1 and 2) were used. The study established that there are losses of vegetation around all the quarries. The LULC map revealed the increase in the sizes and numbers of quarry sites from six in 2005 to nine in 2015. The study discovered the increment in the rocky areas at the rate of 106.54Km2.yr-1, which indicated the immense outcrops of rocks in Mpape. The depth profiles of the derelict ponds showed that pond 1, 2 and 3 that are within Julius Berger quarry site have the highest depths with values of 25m, 20, and 15m, followed by the pond within Crush rock quarry with a depth of 16m, and the pond in Dantata quarry site has the least with a depth of 6m. The buffer analysis carried out at 100m and 150m distances revealed that settlements are already engulfing the three quarry sites located at the core center of Mpape. This study recommended for stakeholders in the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Solid Minerals,FCDA and environmental protection agencies to urge quarrying companies to restore abandoned derelict ponds into socio-economic use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Title page                                                                                                                                ii

Declaration  iii

Certification                                                                                                        iv

Dedication                                                                                                           v

Acknowledgement                                                                                          vi

Abstract                                                                                                          vii

Table of content              ix

List of figures                                                                                                        xi

List of platesxvi

List of tablesxvii

Abbreviations                                                                                        xviii

 

CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION

1.1Background to the study1

1.2Statement ofresearch problem6

1.3Aim and objectives8

1.3.1 Aim8

1.3.2 Objectives         8

1.4Justification of the study9

1.5 Scope and limitation of study10

1.6 The Study area11

1.6.1Geographical location                                                                        11

1.6.2 Climate and weather                                                                                   13

1.6.3 Geology and relief                                                                              14

1.6.4 Population and culture                                                                                    14

1.6.5 Socio-economic activities         15

1.6.6Land use and land cover                                                                              16

 

CHAPTER TWO:LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction17

2.2 Perception of land degradation                                                                               17

  • 1Causes of land degradation18

2.2.2 Indicators of land degradation19

  • Concept of quarrying21
    • Methods of quarrying23
    • Stages of quarrying25
    • Steps in the operations of an ideal quarry26
    • Environmental impacts of quarrying31
    • Possiblesolutions to the problems of quarrying

352.3.6 Positive benefits of quarrying                    36

  • Satellite imagery applications in quarry monitoring36
    • The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)38

2.4.1 The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI)39

  • Review of related works402.5.1 Relatedstudies in other parts of the world 40

2.5.2 Related studies in Nigeria  46

  • 3Gapsidentified fromreviewed literature 49

CHAPTER THREE:MATERIALS AND METHOD

  • Introduction                         51
  • Reconnaissance survey                                                                    51
  • 1Materials 51
    • Software and hardware51
    • Datasets and source53

3.3Method57

3.3.1Data acquisition58

3.3.2Data preparation59

3.3.3 Ground truthing and fieldwork59

3.3.4Digital image processing60

3.3.5Layerstacking and clipping                                                                                 64

3.3.6 Image enhancement65

3.3.7 Extraction of elevation points from ASTERDEM65

3.3.8 Digitization of layers68

3.3.9 Image transformation (Indices Derivation)693.3.10 Signature extraction (Training

Samples)71

3.3.11 Image classification73

3.3.12 Procedure for qualitative and quantitative approach of image classification74

 

3.3.13 Land use and land cover change rate75

3.3.14Derivation of quarry depth using transect analysis 76

3.3.14 Proximity analysis technique77

CHAPTER FOUR:RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1  Introduction                                                                                                  79

4.2 Geometrical characteristics of quarry sites                                                           79

4.2.1 Spatial distribution of quarries                                                                       82

4.2.2 Quarry depth derivation                                                                                 87

4.3 Land use and land cover change rate and quarry depth93

4.3.1 Quarry land use and land cover change rate                                                    95

4.4 Proximity of quarry sites to residential areas  97

4.5 Impact of quarrying on vegetation, water and land surfaces                               101

4.6 Discussion of results                                                                                               107

 

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction                    111

5.2 Summary of findings                                                                                             112

5.3Conclusions114

5.4 Recommendations114

5.5. Contributions of the study                                                                        115

REFERENCES117

APPENDIXES             

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Quarrying is the process of obtaining quarry resources, usually rocks, found on or below the land surface. The difference between mining and quarrying is that quarrying extracts nonmetallic rocks and aggregates while mining excavates the site for metallic mineral deposits. Some of the stones extracted are sandstone, limestone, perlite, marble, ironstone, slate, granite, rock salt and phosphate rock (Nartey et al., 2012). Quarry is a large artificial hole in the ground where stone, sand, etc. is dug for use as building material (Cambridge dictionary, 2016). Also, it can be defined as the process of removing rock, sand, gravel or other minerals from the ground in order to use them to produce materials for construction or other uses. Thus, a quarry is any place on the surface of the earth where minerals are extracted but quarries are also known by other names around the world: “surface mine”, “pit”, “open pit” or “opencast mine”(Quarrying explained, 2017). Quarries are places where materials are extracted from the surface of the earth. They usually refer to operations where the material is to be used in construction, although construction materials are occasionally extracted from underground, and may sometimes be referred to as underground quarries (Introduction to quarries, 2016).

Stone quarrying is the multistage process by which rock is extracted from the ground and crushed to produce aggregate, which is then screened into the sizes required for immediate use, or for further processing, such as coating with bitumen to make bituminous macadam (bitmac) or asphalt (Diaz, 2015).The process begins with a detailed three-dimensional survey of the quarry face. This allows the explosives engineer to design the blast and to plot where the shot holes should be carried out safely and efficiently. The survey will show if there are any bulges or hollows in the face. A bulge will need more explosive than normal to ensure that it is completely fragmented and not left in place in the face. Hollow areas require less explosive than normal. The placement of explosives is professionally planned to ensure that the required fragmentation of the rock is achieved with the minimum environmental impact (North Stone, 2016).

Crushing can be done in three or four stages, primary (first stage), secondary (second stage), tertiary (third stage) and, in some quarries, a quaternary (fourth stage). Crushed rock, or product, is transported along the process line on conveyor belts or down chutes.Primary crushing is usually by a jaw crusher consisting of a heavy metal plate, which moves backwards and forwards against a fixed plate. Secondary, tertiary and quaternary crushers are generally gyratory, or cone, crushers. These operate on the principle of a steel mantle mounted on an eccentric bearing and vertical shaft assembly.Each stage of crushing produces progressively smaller sized stones. In order to produce a usable end-product, the crushed rock has to be screened into various size categories. Crushed and screened rock is called aggregate. Screening is carried out at various stages in the crushing process (Diaz, 2015).

Interestingly, quarrying provides income to local councils through taxation. Good communications are needed for transporting the products of quarrying. As a result, many remote rural areas benefit from improved access (Bitesize, 2016a). In considering the importance of quarry product, domestic uses of the state like building stones, sand, pebble, slabs, etc., are also products of immense value conclusively, the whole activity including marketing and distribution provides various job opportunities and economic aids. Besides, quarry products are one of the most important non-metallic minerals and are indispensable commodities of roads, houses, and other engineering constructions as well as other domestic appliances (Sreenivasa and Reddy, 2014).

However, extraction of raw materials from their natural habitats by mining, drilling, harvesting and those that relate to large-scale water resources development projects, construction, agriculture, energy, industry and development projects, considerably affect the natural environment (Fedra et al., 2005). Again, creating the pits or quarries requires the removal of virtually all natural vegetation, top soil and subsoil to reach the aggregate underneath. Not only does this lead to a loss of existing animal wildlife, it also leads to a huge loss of biodiversity as plants and aquatic habitats are destroyed. Moreover, adjacent eco-systems are affected by noise, dust, pollution and contaminated water (TEA, 2008).Also, a working quarry needs methods of transportation and this means that large amounts of machinery and heavy traffic will be brought into the area, causing an increase in local noise, pollution and erosion (YPTE, 2016). Despite the benefits, quarrying also has negative impacts. The blasting needed in extracting the rock contributes greatly to noise pollution. The dust from the rock blasting is a major form of pollution. Roads frequently used by trucks to and fro the quarry industry may be expensive to maintain as they will require regular maintenance. The huge lorries may also block the roads, making it difficult for access by other users. Quarrying interferes with human settlement and wildlife habitat areas, leading to their displacement. Quarrying also leads to death, where workers are buried by the rocks(North Stone, 2016).

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria was established in 1976 but physical development only began in 1980, and it has been characterized as one of the fastest growing cities in West Africa. The territory has experienced rapid land use and land cover (LULC)changes, urban spatial expansion and transportation infrastructure expansion over the last 30 years and is the major focus of urban spatial analysis in this study (Mahmoud et al., 2016) following (FCDA, 2001), (Aliyu and Bashiru, 2015). Again, a significant feature of Abuja is its stony and hilly terrain where stones of varying sizes can be explored to meet the demand of building materials. Therefore, an ample of mining companies explored these hilly sites for the search of granite stones (different sizes – stone dust, chippings, hardcore etc.) for construction of various infrastructures for economic purposes using heavy machinery for excavation and blasting, which in turn destroys and changes the nature, pattern and cover of the landscape of the vicinity(Akor and Achakpa, 2011).

The management of quarries can be encouraged to be more sustainable during and after quarrying. The quarrying company is expected to restore or improve the quarry site after they have extracted the rock. Measures can be put in place to enable this to happen in a more sustainable way.Quarry restoration can take place. Areas that have already been quarried can be restored while works go in other areas of the quarry (Bitesize,2016b).Environmental Management Strategy provides the framework forenvironmental management during the construction and operation of quarry toensure compliance with the projects development consent conditions and other legalrequirements. The Strategy builds on environmental management controls that are based on environmental impact assessment (Holcim, 2013).

Environmental assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of decisions are taken into account before the decisions are made. Environmental assessment can be undertaken for individual projects, such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory (European Commission, 2016). Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which the anticipated effects on the environment of a proposed development or project are measured. If the likely effects are unacceptable, design measures or other relevant mitigation measures can be taken to reduce or avoid those effects (EPA, 2016).

Spatio-temporal analysis usually investigates quantitatively the spatial and temporal changes in land-cover. Spatio-temporal analysis of land use and land cover changes have been widely carried out using multi-temporal Remote Sensing (RS), due to its high spatial and temporal coverage (Jat et al., 2008 as quoted in Ashraf et al., 2015).Spatio-temporal assessment of the quarry site using remote sensing technique over a period will give a clue over the rate at which the solid rock is crop out to meet the demands of the increasing population (Adeoye, 2012).Spatio-temporal change detection analysis includes the integration of GIS and remote sensing methods and the output in GIS platform. The advantage of using GIS is the ability to incorporate different source data into change detection applications (Lo and Shipman, 1990 as quoted by Ravindra and Mundhe, 2013). Development for the economic growth of any area. Detection of changes in the environment involves use of at least two period data sets. The changes in land use / land cover due to natural and human activities can be observed using current and archived remotely sensed data (Jenson, 1986, Luong, 1993 as quoted by Babu et al., 2014).

Geospatial technologies are invaluable for the monitoring and assessment of land management sustainability due to the very nature of land management sustainability. Geospatial technologies are those information technologies that handle geo-referenced data (i.e. data with information on their absolute locations on the Earth‟s surface). Remote sensing entails the acquisition of information about the Earth‟s surface without actually being in physical or intimate contact with it, affording spatial, spectral and temporal information that cannot be obtained from ground data. It provides systematically collected, digital, spatially explicit and continuous data on the Earth‟s surface across the globe, both in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum and beyond (e.g. thermal infrared or microwave). Satellite imagery and aerial photography are available for periods as early as the 1970s and 1930s respectively, offering insights about historic land conditions and change that may be difficult to obtain in the absence of long-term field monitoring projects.

Remote sensing is an invaluable tool for data acquisition for integration into a Geographic Information System (GIS). GIS are information systems that facilitate the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis, management and presentation of geo-referenced data. GIS can integrate remotely sensed and geo-referenced field data from any discipline. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are another form of geospatial technology (Beunemann, 2009).

1.2 Statement of Research Problem

Akor and Achakpa (2011) quoted that “environmental justice presupposes that citizens have the right of nature and the right to live in dignity within the environment. The environment and its natural base of Abuja and some urban communities inNigeria, is seen as a commodity and therefore commercialized, leading to its destruction. The case of development is inadvertently creating destruction of landscape and natural architecture of Abuja and environs. The resulting effect being that the environment is not able to support residents‟ livelihoods and daily experiences. Extensive environmental monitoring work across these urban communities has been done by the non-governmental organization known as Women Environmental Programme (WEP) in the past three years within the city of Abuja”. Also, Akor and Achakpa (2011) quoted that their research is supported by documented evidence on the scope of mining and extractive activities in the communities of Chika, Kuje, Mpape, Karmo and Gwagwalada.

Recently, the Nigerian senate committee on environment have threatened to shut down five stone mining companies operational at Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, for non-compliance with environmental safety laws. These companies have been blasting and crushing rocks in Mpape for over 30 years, but none of them have an environmental impact assessment certificate or a plan on how to remedy the environment after mining. Neither did any of the them have a corporate social responsibility project in the community to reclaim, restore and re-use the degraded sites for nature conservation and recreational purposes(Omosanya and Ajibade, 2011).

ThisDay (2010) reported the dispute between the then Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecologyand some construction companies in Abuja, is one of many examples of the poor application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in Nigeria.

On a visit to the quarry sites of Julius Berger, Setraco, Arab Contractors, HongyumMining Industrial Company in the Federal Capital Territory that week, The Chairman gave the companies two weeks to obtain their EIAs or have the sites shut down. She cited complaints from residents as her reason for the intervention”.

Therefore, it is evident that quarrying activities are executed heavily by quarrying companies on the aforestated communities within the FCT. As quarrying is a continuous operation to meet the demand of construction, thus, it entails a constant scour of materials in all the nooks and crannies of the sites. These sites expand in depth and space (size) as exploration continues, leading to environmental changes in ecosystem and landform. This has also led to the abandoning of quarrying, thereby transforming into stagnant pool with several years of continuous excavation. Reduction in fauna and flora in these affected communities is another effects of these expansions.

From the aforesaid, it is obvious that quarrying is predominant inMpape community of the FCT. Also, as the operation continues, there is every tendency in the expansion of these sites in size and depth. It has environmental, economic and health implications on the surrounding habitats and inhabitants. Consequently, there is need to characterize them for subsequent planning for restoration. Therefore, this study seeks to address the following questions:

  1. What is the distribution of the quarry sites and what are their geometrical characteristics within the study area?
  2. What is the land use and land cover (LULC) change rates due to quarrying for the period of 2005 – 2015?
  • How close are the sites to residential areas, and are there evidences of quarryinduced structural deformations in the study area?
  1. What is the effect on vegetation, water and land surface in the area?

1.3 Aim and Objectives

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of this study is to carry out geospatial analysis of quarrying activities in Mpape

District, Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria.

1.3.2 Objectives

The objectives to adopt in accomplishing the above aim are to:

  1. Map and establish the spatial distribution of quarry sites and determine the geometrical characteristics of the quarry sites.
  2. Determine a land use and land cover change rate in the area. iii. Establish the proximity of the various active quarry sites to residential areas. iv.      Determine the effects of quarrying activities on vegetation, water and land surfaces.

1.4 Justification of the Study

Akor and Achakpa (2011) reported that Abuja‟srapid growth over the years is largely due to ensuing urbanization in the city following the relocation of the federal capital from Lagos, and to the economic opportunities that the city seems to offer. This has put enormous pressure on the city‟s infrastructure, particularly housing, as well as other services. Many government establishments, embassies, international agencies and several corporate conglomerates are headquartered in Abuja. The city has seen the development of major constructions of structures and infrastructures to meet up with the demands of accommodation for office, residential and recreational spaces.

It has been observed that quarrying activities are on the rise in their number, space and depthwithin urban settlements in Abuja. This study is embarked upon in Abuja because of the significance of the city in the country with its characteristic stone-richen hilly terrain, which serve as habitats to fauna and flora. The hilly terrain also serves as a beautification to the city. Focusing on the urban sprawl and unprecedented population growth of city, quarrying will continuously expose earth top soil leading to rise in dust, noise generation emanating from blasting and crushing of stones by heavy machines. Therefore, this study seeks to carry out spatio-temporal analysis of quarrying sites in part of Abuja, Nigeria.

This research should enable stake holders in the ministry of environment, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and environmental protection agencies to realize the spread of these quarry companies; their expansion in size; there nearness to residential areas and the modification of the land cover of these sites overtime. Also, the outputs of this research (maps, charts, reports) will serve as tools to aid visual communication and understanding among these stakeholders.

1.5Scope of the Study

It will be intriguing to analyze all the quarrying sites in Abuja, but it is also challenging because of the spatial extent, availability of high satellite image and time of the study. Therefore, this study looked into quarry sites within Mpape districts. The study covered nine quarry sites within Mpape communities where the quarrying companies are located. The spatial analyses worked with both raster and vector models to achieve the set objectives. This study worked in the premise of physical and geometric indicators that can be derived quantitatively from remotely sensed imagery and field observations. These are the physical and ecological indicators (vegetation and water). Thus, indices such as

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were derived to target these indicators. The analysis of the quarrying sites was based on the nature of the land cover; impact on vegetation cover; presence of stagnant water at the site, depth and sizes of the quarries, and the proximity of the sites to settlements.

The remotely sensed data that was used is IKONOS imagery of 2005 and 2015. The study intended to use satellite imagery at an interval of three (3) years interval. Unfortunately, the availability of high resolution image at three (3) years interval bedeviled the intention of the research.  Also, Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on-board Landsat 8 of 2015 and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor on-board Landsat 7 of 2002 were acquired because of its multiband nature, so as to derive necessary indices. It is important to note that the study acquired Landsat 7 of 2002, because there is a huge void of Landsat data from 2003 to 2012. In addition, ground-surveying techniques was intended to be used for acquiring the geometrical characteristics of the quarry sites, unfortunately, access was not granted due to bureaucratic bottleneck. However, the depth of only Julius Berger quarry was measured using ground-surveying method.

1.6The Study Area

1.6.1 Geographicallocation

Approximately 10minutes‟ drive from the city center sits Mpape (Jimoh, 2017). It is one of the districts in Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Mpape is one of the numerous communities in the suburbs of Abuja, not too far from the choice places where the who‟s who live like Maitama. It lies on the foot hills and on the top of the famous Mpape Rocks that are easily sighted from the neighbouring Maitama District. Comparatively, it could be likened to what Maroko is to Victoria Island in Lagos (Okeke, 2016).

Geographically, Mpape lies between latitude 9.175699° and 9.113010° north of the equator and longitude 7.463892° and 7.524349°east of the Greenwich Meridian. Itoccupies a land area of 44.325 Ha.Figure 1.1 is showing the location of FCT Abuja while Figure 1.2does show Bwari Area Council. An inset map portraying the study area is shown in Figure 1.3 and 1.4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Figure 1.1: An inset map of  the study area. Source: Modified after (AGIS,2016).

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1.6.2 Climate and weather

Mpape, being one of the districts in Abuja shares the same climate and weather with the FCT at large. Abuja experiences a hot and humid rainy season, from April to October; a dry season, from October to April; and a brief windy season in between known as the harmattan season, when the dry and dusty West African trade wind blows through the city, coupled with intense cold. Sometimes the dust storms severely limit visibility and can even block the sun for several days, comparable to a heavy fog (World travel, 2016).

Also, daytime temperatures reach 28-30 degrees and night time lows range around 22-23 degrees. In the dry season, daytime temperatures can rise to 40 degrees and night time temperatures can drop to 12 degrees, resulting in chilly evenings. Even the chilliest nights can be followed by daytime temperatures well above 30 degrees.The high altitudes and rolling terrain of the FCT act as moderating influence on the weather of the territory. The annual total rainfall is in the region of 1100 mm to 1600 mm (Abuja city, 2016b).

In a nutshell, the annual weather facts are given below:

  1. The months of June, July, August and September have nice weather with a good average temperature.
  2. On average, the temperatures are always high. Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in

May, June, July, August, September and October.

  • Abuja has dry periods in January, February, November and December.
  1. On average, the warmest month is March. On average, the coolest month is

December. September is the wettest month.

  1. This month should be avoided if one does not like too much rain. January is the driest month (World weather and climate information, 2016).

1.6.3 Geology and relief

Similarly, Mpape has the same geology and relief with the FCT. Abuja is almost predominantly underlain by high grade metamorphism and igneous rocks of Precambrian age generally trending, these rocks consist of gneiss, migmatites, granites and schist belt outcrops along the eastern margin of the area (Oyawoye, 1972; McCurry, 1976) as quoted by (Abam and Ngah, 2013). The belt broadens southwards and attains a maximum development to the southeastern section of the area where the topography is rugged and their relief is high. In general, the rocks are highly sheared. The lowest elevation in the FCT is found in the extreme southwest where the flood plain of the river Guraja is at an elevation of about 10m above sea level from there, the land rises irregularly eastward, northwards and north westwards. The highest part of the territory is in the northeast where there are many peaks over 760m above sea level. Hills occurs either as clusters or form long ranges (Martins Library, 2016).

1.6.4 Population and culture

Mpape is the largest slum settlementsAbuja (Jimoh, 2017) and densely populated (JohnMensah and Adeniyi, 2016).  With the rural-urban migration reportedly on the rise in Nigeria, the village has grown into an informal settlement with a population tethering over 1.1 million inhabitants without the commensurate infrastructure (Jimoh, 2017).

The swelling population is opening the community into phases and neighbourhoods. With Mpape Phase II adding to Unguwar Rimi, Unguwar Usuma, Masafa Road, Berger Yard, and Gwari Village areas, the community boasts of an age-long intertwined relationship.

While Gwari Village, Unguwar Rimi, Masafa Road and Unguwar  Usuma could pass for a slum due to its unplanned housing and open drainages within residences, the Berger Quarry Area is said to be reserved for the rich (Mensah and Adeniyi, 2016).

Mpape population grew in geometrical progression following the demolition of some settlements in Abuja like Karmo, Durumi, Gwarimpa village, Kado village, Apo and various other settlements along airport road, by the former Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai. Originally inhabited by the Gbagis, Mpape can be described as a melting point of cultures, attracting people from all tribes in Nigeria such as Nupe, Ebira, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa etc. (Jimoh, 2017).

1.6.5 Socio-economic activities

Despite its squalid environmental condition, its population keeps growing by the day. The reason being that rent here is comparatively cheap and its near to the city centre where most workers go to, only that the traffic situation has become a night mare to Mpape dwellers, only that the situation has become a night mare to Mpape dwellers. The population has provided ready market for some smart businesspersons who are smiling to the banks. In such human community, crime is inevitable, but interestingly, Mpape is not known for major violent crimes. Petty crimes though remain rampant (Okeke, 2016).

The rocky nature of Mpape makes it suitable for quarry business which thrives here(Okeke, 2016).Mpape has been home to a number of mining sites owned by major construction companies benefiting from government contracts for road and other projects in Abuja and beyond. Little wonder many districts derive their names from that of the closest company, thus names such as Berger Quarry Road I, Berger Quarry Road II, and Arab Road, are used to describe areas. This explains the large movement of heavy trucks in and out of Mpape at regular intervals (Jimoh, 2017).It is obvious to say that Mpape is a time bomb waiting to explode someday, especially if cognizance is not taken, the safety concerns associated with explosions from quarry sites on a daily basis. Health concerns from the filth and quarry dusts. The people of Mpape are endangered (Okeke, 2016).

1.6.6 Landuse and land cover

Mpape is highly noted for its hilly and rocky topography(Jimoh, 2017).Most parts of the area is swampy during the rains and dusty at dry seasons (Okeke, 2016). It is mainly comprised of built-up areas because of its teeming population. The unbuilt- up areas comprise farmlands and vegetation. The land use comprises residential, industrial and educational (primary and secondary schools) (Solomon, 2017).

GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF QUARRY ACTIVITIES IN MPAPE DISTRICT, ABUJA NIGERIA

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