Geospatial Assessment of Legal and Illegal Solid Waste Dumping Sites in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria
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Abstract
This study presents a geospatial assessment of legal and illegal solid waste dumping sites in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria. The aim was to create an inventory of existing dumping sites, classify them as authorized or unauthorized, and analyze their spatial distribution patterns. Data were collected through a field survey using a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx receiver to record the coordinates of each site. Attributes such as location, size, and legal status were documented, and selected sites were photographed for visual validation. The data were processed and analyzed in ArcGIS 10.8, where georeferencing, digitization, and spatial statistical tools were applied. A total of 61 solid waste dumping sites were identified across the metropolis. Out of these, 14 (23%) were legal and 47 (77%) were illegal. The Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) analysis revealed that legal dumping sites were spatially dispersed (z = 63.19, p < 0.001), while illegal dumping sites were highly clustered (z = –6.03, p < 0.001). This distribution indicates that residents are compelled to create unauthorized disposal points due to the insufficient number and poor accessibility of government-approved sites. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a vital role in urban waste policy and planning by identifying, analyzing, and optimizing the spatial distribution of dumpsites, thereby supporting evidence-based and sustainable decision-making. The study concludes that illegal dumping dominates waste disposal practices in Sokoto Metropolis, largely due to inadequate infrastructure and weak enforcement mechanisms. It recommends the establishment of additional legal dumpsites guided by population distribution, the adoption of GIS-based planning tools, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, and continuous updating of spatial data to support sustainable waste management.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Ibrahim Abubakar Audu, Ali Badema, Alhaji Abatcha Bulama (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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