Mitigating Urban Disasters: A Study of Abandoned Mines in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Sand and especially mineral mining are accountable for the growth and development of many cities. Traditional settlements of northern Nigeria are punctuated with flourishing and mostly abandoned mining sites. These features have drawn attention of many due to their continuous threats to life and properties in the area. They are also noted to have limited urban livability and further constrained effective urban management. The existence of these features has also led to the growth and sustenance of city black spots of like illegal refuse dumps, insect breeding grounds, and, continuous gullying that challenges the safety of adjoining structures and communication routes. Through physical surveys, systematic sampling, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), this work looked at the innovative ways residents of Zaria and her environs are confronting these challenges by: a) engaging emerging trends in urban management through community efforts and other civic engagements to curtail this and similar environmental menace, b) highlighting how joint efforts geared towards environmental management have opened other ways of livelihoods and sustainable urban economic activities, and c) the wider application of similar gestures in addressing many urban issues confronting developing countries today. Top amongst the recommendations by this study is the endorsement of inclusive bottom-up approach to planning and management of cities. The inclusion of the local communities and the vulnerable groups – irrespective of their levels of deprivations is very crucial to disaster mitigation and management in both urban and rural areas.