Investigation into the Adverse Environmental Degradation and increasing Fatality Rate resulting from Bad Coal Mining Practices in Communities of Kogi State, Nigeria.

Mining Engineering

Coal a fossil fuel, which exist in high quality and abundant quantity in the Eastern part of Kogi State, particular around Ankpa in Okaba, Okobo villages and other surrounding settlements. However, with unplanned and unregulated extraction of this resource, what should be a “blessing” has become a “curse” This is owing to the fact that the environment from where coal is extracted is polluted and adversely degraded, people die in their numbers, health and environmental issues are trivialized and the general coal extraction is carried out without due consideration of international best practices in mining of minerals and fossil fuel that puts in place health, safety and environmental impact standards. Reports of coal concentration and exposure rate far exceeds world standard of ambient atmospheric air, soil and water accepted quality levels and standards. Chronic diseases and even death have resulted from uncontrolled exposure of people and environment to improper coal mining methods. Recommended mining practice is suggested to reduce the level of environmental harm done to the coal mining villages in Kogi State.

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