Africa Science Focus

Gold mining’s toll on Nigeria’s Osun River

December 21, 2023 SciDev.Net Season 4 Episode 20
Africa Science Focus
Gold mining’s toll on Nigeria’s Osun River
Show Notes

This episode of Africa Science Focus continues to investigate the pollution of the Osun River in southwest Nigeria, delving into the environmental impact of gold mining along its banks. 

Olugbenga Okunlola, professor of geology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, joins our reporter, Babatunde Okunlola, to talk about the gold deposits in Osun state and the region's environmental dynamics.

We hear from miners and ecological experts about the soil erosion, vanishing forests, and polluted air and water resulting from unregulated mining practices – and explore potential solutions.

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This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

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