Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of Quarrying in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Review of Sustainable Quarrying Practices and Innovative Technologies

The quarrying industry in Nigeria has far-reaching socioeconomic and environmental implications that demand careful consideration of sustainable practices and innovative technologies. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted impacts of quarrying on local communities and the environment, highlighting challenges such as habitat destruction, air, noise,water pollution, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic disparities. Furthermore, it accesses current sustainable quarrying practices and innovative technologies to mitigate these impacts and improve efficiency. To address these challenges, this paper also emphasizes the importance of implementing robust policies and regulations governing quarrying activities in Nigeria. Through analysis of real-world examples, case studies, and existing literature, this review uncovers promising solutions that can enhance quarrying operations’ sustainability and environmental performance in Nigeria and worldwide. This paper unveils that, while quarrying is an important industry in Nigeria, it is critical to ensure it is carried out sustainably and responsibly. This can be achieved through improved regulations, strengthening sustainable quarrying practices, conducting thorough environmental impact assessments, establishing buffer zones around quarries, enforcing stricter pollution control measures, stakeholder engagement, and adoption of new technologies such as advanced blasting techniques, dust suppression technologies, automation and robotics machinery, water recycling, and treatment systems, waste recycling management, and reforestation and restoration techniques.It is evident that there are gaps and inconsistencies in Nigeria’s policy and regulatory framework, and there is a lack of research on the effective implementation of sustainable practices and new technologies. Therefore, further research is recommended on areas such as the lasting impact of sustainable practices, the potential of new technologies, and the enhancement of policy and regulatory frameworks to improve the sustainability and efficiency of quarrying operations in Nigeria.