Impact of Sand Dredging Activities on Ecosystem and Community Survival in Ibeshe Area of Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria

Falilu Olaiwola Adekunbi,Opeyemi Otolorin Oyatola,Dorathy Iniobong Akhiromen,Theresa Osamudiame Oluwagunke,Isa Olalekan Elegbede

doi:10.4236/gep.2018.62008

Falilu Olaiwola Adekunbi, Opeyemi Otolorin Oyatola + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2018.62008

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Abstract

This study investigates the impact of sand dredging activities on coastal ecosystem and community survival around Ibeshe area of the Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria. Surface water and bottom sediment samples were collected from locations partitioned into Dredged Area (DA) and Undredged Area (UA) in the lagoon for laboratory analyses. Questionnaires were administered to community dwellers and sand miners to further analyze perception of locals. Significant differences in water quality parameters and sediments properties from Dredged and Undredged areas, and highly significant relationship between sand dredging and unsustainable ecological practices in Ibeshe were observed. One way ANOVA test indicates that all water quality parameters measured with exception of turbidity and nitrate concentration were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between Dredged and Undredged area. With exception of moisture content other sediment parameters measured were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between Dredged and Undredged areas. The project also determined the impact of dredging activities on the fisheries and fishing business in the environment. Turbidity values revealed that fishes will be negatively affected due to dredging activities; moreover dwellers pay little or no attention to conservation of the area due to unawareness. Sand dredging operations negatively influence ecological resources and water composition of the area. This project is designed to randomly sample the opinion of sand mining operators and residents; and questionnaires were administered to obtain data. Strict regulation and enforcement will assist to control ecological destruction and solve problems facing the lagoon environment.

Highlights

Dredging entails the excavation of material from sea, river or lake beds and its relocation elsewhere; it is a necessary activity in infrastructural development
Three Samples for the Undredged area was first collected within the same location, the first sample for the Undredged area was taken at a depth of 1.95 m with major coordinate Latitude 6 ̊34'32.132" and Longitude 3 ̊28'16.59", second sample was taken at 2.13 m depth with major coordinate Latitude 6 ̊34'29.694" and Longitude 3 ̊28'11.899" at a distance 159 m apart
The third sample for the Undredged area was collected at a depth of 2.66 m with coordinate Latitude 6 ̊34'32.074" and Longitude 3 ̊28'8.645" at a distance of 128 m from the second point, the depth of sample collected was determined with the aid of a meter rule that was deep into the lagoon

Summary

Introduction

Dredging entails the excavation of material from sea, river or lake beds and its relocation elsewhere; it is a necessary activity in infrastructural development. Available cations are released in this process, a common phenomenon observed in estuaries subjected to dredging [3] [4] [5] [6]. This mobilisation process impacts estuarine water systems due to the persistent toxicity effects of a number of trace elements [6] [7]

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Discussion

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