




































 
 
 

Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences 
Vol. 4, No. 1, 58-67, 2017 

ISSN(E) 2313-8173 / ISSN(P) 2518-0134 
DOI: 10.20448/journal.506.2017.41.58.64 

 
 
 
 

 

58 
 

Effects of Anthropogenic Activities and Eutrophication along River Chanchaga, 
Minna, Nigeria 

 
Wakili, B. Y1

    

Nsofor G.N2   

Suleiman, Y. M3    

Mohammed. A. E4   

 

 
( Corresponding Author) 

 
1,2,3,4Department of Geography, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria 

 

 
Abstract 

River Chanchaga is the major source of drinking water in Minna, Nigeria. This river has been a 
medium to an increasing pollution loads from contaminated runoff from different land uses 
degrading aquatic ecosystem and water quality in the river.This paper investigates the threat of 
anthropogenic influence on river environment and aquatic ecosystem distortion of River 
Chanchaga, Minna, Nigeria. Field work which include interview and observation methods were 
used to collect data on effect of anthropogenic and eutrophication along the study area. A total of 
Two Hundred and Fifty (250) people accounting for 0.5% of the total population were 
interviewed, making it eight per each community in thirty settlements along the study area. 
Physical observation of deforestation around sample sites spatially distributed along River 
Chanchaga depicted in Figure 2 was carried out to study mining activities, farming practice, crop 
types, and fallow duration to generate the mean and percentages of different anthropogenic 
activities along the study area. The findings revealed that deforestation is links to high demand 
for fire wood, lumbering, irrigation farming bank-side mining for sand and gold as depicted in 
Plat 1 and 2. Eutrophication at the upper course of river is links to high inflow of agricultural 
wastes and seasonal nature of the river from site A to C evident from Table 4 and constant flow 
from site C to K as a result of released water from Tagwai Dam that keeps (site C, the confluence 
of River Chanchaga and River Numui) middle and lower courses of River Chanchaga with 
sustainable moving water. The result further indicated that continue increase of pollution has a 
direct relationship to an increasing level of human activities like deforestation, mining activities 
and agricultural practices along the study area. The result also shows that there is decline in 
fallow duration as indicated in Table 1 and increase environmental related issues such as soil 
erosion, water floor (depth) reduction and distortion of river morphology of the study area. It is 
therefore recommended that the identified anthropogenic activities that lead to pollution and 
eutrophication such as river-side deforestation, irrigation farming, mining and other related 
environmental problems should be regulated and discourages to avoid further increase of 
pollution and distortion of river environment of the study area. 

 
Keywords: Anthropogenic, Pollution, Deforestation, Eutrophication, Environment. 

 
Citation | Wakili, B. Y; Nsofor G.N; Suleiman, Y. M; Mohammed. A. E 
(2017). Effects of Anthropogenic Activities and Eutrophication along River 
Chanchaga, Minna, Nigeria. Asian Review of Environmental and Earth 
Sciences, 4(1): 58-64. 
History:  
Received: 13 November 2017 
Revised: 27 November 2017 
Accepted: 12 December 2017 
Published: 21 December 2017 
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 

License  
Publisher: Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Contribution/Acknowledgement: All authors contributed to the conception and design 
of the study. 
Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. 
Transparency: The authors confirm that the manuscript is an honest, accurate, and 
transparent account of the study was reported; that no vital features of the study have 
been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned have been explained. 
Ethical: This study follows all ethical practices during writing.   

 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 
2. The Study Area ................................................................................................................................................................................. 59 
3. Materials and Method ..................................................................................................................................................................... 60 
4. Results and Discussions .................................................................................................................................................................. 60 
5. Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................... 64 
References .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 64 
 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Wakili, B. Y
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Nsofor G.N
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Suleiman, Y. M
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Mohammed. A. E
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Wakili, B. Y
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Nsofor G.N
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Suleiman, Y. M
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Mohammed. A. E
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Wakili, B. Y
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Nsofor G.N
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Suleiman, Y. M
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Mohammed. A. E
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Wakili, B. Y
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Nsofor G.N
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Suleiman, Y. M
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Mohammed. A. E
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Wakili, B. Y
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Nsofor G.N
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Suleiman, Y. M
https://orcid.org/orcid-search/quick-search?searchQuery=Mohammed. A. E


Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

59 
 

 

1. Introduction 
There are many ways, by which several water sources include harbors, bays, creeks, canals, swamps, lakes, and 

streams, which come together and form a small network of river. In Nigeria, these water ways (rivers) have been 
the medium to an increasing pollution load from contaminated runoff water from agriculture, domestic 
(residential), industrial, commercial, institutional (schools, hospitals), recreational, like tourism centers and event 
centers Adakole and Annue [1]. Ogbogu and Hassan [2] made mention that contaminants usually carried into 
water bodies (stream/rivers) especially in areas of heavy anthropogenic activities degrade the aquatic habitat and 
water quality. To some level freshness is also attributed to geochemical and biochemical sedimentation [2]. River 
Chanchaga is a major effluent receiving stream with many gutters inflow to it. It is also use for irrigation of crops 
as well as source of drinking water for cattle during the dry season period [3]. 

At the catchments, there is challenge of land cover destruction that affects negatively on the river (River 
Chanchaga) and reflected on the proliferation of water hyacinth infestation [4]. River Chanchaga presents a good 
example of localities that have undergone extensive land use and land cover changes since the attainment of 
independence and subsequent population growth. The development has been a threat to the sustainability of its 
natural resource endowments [5]. Public concern is now focused on how human impact on aquatic life or habitat 
loss and fragmentation are predominant factors affecting biodiversity loss [6]. Conservation strategies are 
therefore, needed in order to offset such impacts on animal populations.  

Polluted water has direct effect on health in the form of bacterial or viral disease, production of cancer, genetic 
defects and varieties of acute and chronic toxicity in human beings [7]. Water pollution affects ecosystems through 
which an impact on human beings may not consequently be left. Hence, household detergents that contain 
phosphate may flow into Oligotrophic lakes and lead to eutrophication of the water bodies. 

Muhammad [8] pointed to the socioeconomic importance of river and postulated that it is the modifier of 
micro climatic conditions around its immediate surroundings. Though the importance of the river is recognized the 
emanating situation along River Chanchaga is not environmentally friendly. This is true because the morphology 
of the river has been undergoing alteration and degradation of its environment.This challenge require and 
immediate attention to checked environmental degradations and eco-system disorders. This river is also for dry 
season irrigation farming and for domestic activities (such as construction of houses around its bank and 
neighboring village communities and excavation of sand [8]. 
 

2. The Study Area 
River Chanchaga transverses Muya, Shiroro, Paikoro, Bosso and Katcha Local Government Areas and can be 

located on Longitude 6033’E – Longitude 6038’E and latitude 9037’N – Latitude 9040’N. The total land area covered 
by the basin is 159,259 km [8]. 
 

 
Figure-1. The Study Area (River Chanchaga, Niger State, Nigeria) 

Source: Remote Sensing Laboratory, Department of Geography, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria 
 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

60 
 

 

3. Materials and Method 
The methodology used for this research employed the use of descriptive analysis. It involved the use of tables, 

charts and simple percentages. Therefore, both quantitative and qualitative measures were used for direct 
measurement of water channel morphology, river channel characteristics as well as extent of water pollution in the 
river [8]. 

Generally, primary data were collected through the field surveys and 250 questionnaires accounting for 0.5% of 
the total population of the study area were administered to ascertain salient environmental features along River 
Chanchaga. Identification of different types of anthropogenic activities using camera, ranging poles and stones 
were conducted, investigated and analyzed. Secondary data were collected as well through consultation of books of 
past related subject matter of the study. 
 

4. Results and Discussions 
The identification is of different anthropogenic activities along River Chanchaga include deforestation, mining, 

agricultural practices and other activities like industrial activities, oil droplets from mechanic sites and construction 
activities 
 

4.1. Deforestation and its Effects in River Chanchaga Basin 
Deforestation is understood to be an indiscriminating felling of trees or exploitation or clearance of the forest 

at particular geographical locations without any effort at replacing them. The possible consequences of 
deforestation vary from one point to another. The study reveals in Figure 2 from site A to K, that site D (under 
Chanchaga Town Bridge) has the highest intensive cutting down of trees and land clearance; this is because the 
continuous farming practices (irrigation and normal farming activities are taking place) in all seasons of the year 
with zero fallow duration. Other sample sites that followed site B include sites G, E, F, H, J and I where tuber and 
cereal crops farming are at alarming rate because of population pressure as indicated in Figure 2. Site K has lowest 
rate of deforestation activities. It was found that farming for tuber and cereal crops is less at this area as presented 
in Table 1. This resulted into the loss of species and biodiversity in aquatic ecosystem of River Chanchaga due to 
excessive artificial alteration of study area. The affected areas of deforestation are as presented in Plate 1 and 2.  
 

 
Figure-2. Deforestation around Water Sampling Sites Spatially Distributed along River Chanchaga 

Source: Department of Geography, Federal University of Technology, Minna 
 

Another source of effect is provision of Fuel Wood and Charcoal: The demand for domestic fuel wood is 
another factor accelerating deforestation along River Chanchaga.  Firewood and charcoal are the main sources of 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

61 
 

 

energy for domestic purpose as some trees species are particularly important due to the burning efficiency of their 
wood. The most important are vitexdomianaprosipis Africana, Bonataxcostatum, and Borassusasthiopium. These 
exploited in large quantities as presented in Plate 1 and 2 
 

 
Plate-1. Cutting Down of Trees for Charcoal and Medicinal purposes 

 

 
Plate-2. Deforestation for firewood along River Chanchaga 

 

4.2. Medicinal Properties of the Trees Extraction 
The extractions made from the leaves, branches, barks and roots depend on the type of medicine and intensity 

of extraction. This may cause tree to die. Other minor causes are settlement and urbanization, farming, 
construction of roads, building, grazing and mining, which are the major characteristics along the upstream and 
downstream upland area of River Chanchaga. It was observed that these dead plants wastes get transported by 
wind and runoff into nearby water source to degrade the water quality in the river as depicted in Plate 1. 
 

4.3. Farming Activities 
This is deforestation process which involves large scale clearance of vegetation cover for farming due to 

increasing population at particular geographical areas. The level of disturbance attributed to such land use can 
either be intermediate or high. The traditional bush fallow cultivation system of River Chanchaga characterized by 
the annual cycle of forest clearance is no longer tenable. This is cultivation for two to three years and then 
abandoned for succession to forest. The lengths of the fallow (nowadays) mainly are determined by land availability 
and population pressure at particular place for specific period. The land clearance for cultivation of food crops and 
fuel wood is as presented in Plate 3. The farming practices and crops with their subsequence wastes generated that 
cause’s water pollution and eutrophication is presented in Table 1. 
 
 
 
 
 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

62 
 

 

Table-1. Farming Practices, Crop Types and Fallow Duration along River Chanchaga 

Sample Site Vicinity Crops Produced Farming Practices Duration of Fallow (Years) 

A Maize, guinea corn, 
yam, ground nut, millet, 
potato 

Fertilizer application, mix farming, 
bush burning, manure spreading, 
grazing of animal, shifting 
cultivation  

2 

B Yam, guinea corn, 
maize, cassava, fishing, 
mango 

Fertilizer application, mix farming, 
bush burning, manure spreading, 
grazing of animal, shifting 
cultivation  

1 

C Yam, guinea corn, 
maize, millet, cassava, 
fishing, mango, guava, 
plantain  

Fertilizer application, mix farming, 
bush burning, manure spreading, 
grazing of animal, shifting 
cultivation  

1 

D Rice, yam, guinea corn, 
millet, groundnut, 
sugarcane, banana, 
potato, mango 

Irrigation, mix farming, 
continuous cropping, bush burning 

0 

E Yam, cassava, millet, 
maize, guinea corn, 
ground nut 

Continuous farming, bush burning, 
shifting cultivation  

1 

F Yam, cassava, millet, 
maize, guinea corn, 
ground nut 

Continuous farming, bush burning 1 

G Yam, cassava, 
sugarcane, maize, 
guinea corn 

Continuous farming, bush burning 2 

H Rice, maize, guinea 
corn, plantain  

Fishing, rearing of farm animals 3 

I Rice, yam, guinea corn Shifting cultivation, mix farming  2 
J Rice, yam, maize, 

guinea corn 
Shifting cultivation, mix farming  2 

K Rice, yam, guinea corn, 
maize 

Shifting cultivation, mix farming, 
bush fallow  

3 

 Source: Author's Field Work (2016) 

 

 
Plate-3. Land Clearance of over Fifty Hectare Due to Continuous Irrigation Farming Practices behindChanchaga Market 

 

4.4. Mining Activities 
Mining ranked third with 12 accounting for 4.8% of the total anthropogenic influences on River Chanchaga 

water quality as depicted in Table 2. 
 

Table-2. Identified Sites for Mining for Sand and Gold 

Course of River Chanchaga Mining Sites  

   Sand  Gold  

Upper  13  12  

Middle  45  26  

Lower  7  4  

Total  65  42  
                               Source: Author's Field Work (2016) 
 
4.5. Agricultural Practices along the Study Area 

Agricultural practices ranked the highest with 175 accounting for 70% as indicated in Table 3 and Plate 5.  
 
 
 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

63 
 

 

Table-3. Anthropogenic Influences on River Chanchaga Water Quality 

S/No.  Anthropogenic activities  Frequency (No. of respondents)  Percentage (%)  

1  Agricultural activities  175  70  

2  Construction/road &residential  38  15.2  

3  Mining activities  12  4.8  

4  Industrial  3  1.2  

5  Institutional  3  1.2  

6  Commercial  7  2.8  

7  Others  12  4.8  

   Total  250  100  
                 Source: Author's Field Work (2016) 
 
4.6. Irrigation 

Irrigation farming alone with 79 accounting for 31.6% of the total agricultural activities with other remaining 
agricultural influence such as animal rearing and upland farming along the river with 96 accounting for 38.4% 
making a total of 175 accounting for 70% of the total agricultural activities shown in Table 3.  Irrigation is the 
artificial application of water on farm crops in the dry season or during the drought period. It is the major 
contributor to water pollution especially during dry season period. It was observed that pesticide, fertilizer and 
other agrochemicals applied on the crops are washed directly into the water body. Chanchaga Town has the 
highest land area coverage for irrigation farming with about 70% and the remaining 30% for other areas along the 
study area.  Irrigation farming practice is as presented in Plate 4. 

 

 
Plate-4. Irrigation Farming Within River Bank. 

 

4.7. Industrial Activities 
There are five identifiable block industries by Chanchaga Township Bridge, off Minna-Paiko road, three soap 

factories and one pharmaceutical industry (Danadam   Pharmaceutical Industry) that discharge their effluence into 
River Chanchaga, The effluence and washed detergent discharged degrade water quality in the river, thereby 
increasing the alkalinity and acidity of this river. Dust from block industries settles immediately after release and 
increases suspended particles in the water. However, there is less industrial influence on River Chanchaga water 
quality as they are few light industries along the river. Plate 5 is one of the examples of such anthropogenic 
activities along the study area. 
 

 
Plate-5. Block Industry with about 8.60 m Setback to the River Chanchaga 

 



Asian Review of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2017, 4(1): 58-64 

64 
 

 

4.8. Eutrophication and its Effects on River Chanchaga 
Spatial-temporal eutrophic areas in River Chanchaga are presented in Table 4. 

 
Table-4. Spatial-temporal Eutrophic Areas in River Chanchaga 

S/N  River course  Frequency  Characteristics  

1.   Upper  5  Seasonal  

2.  Middle  0  Not Seasonal  

3.  Lower  0  Not Seasonal  
                   Source: Author's Field Work (2016) 
 

The occurrence of eutrophication only at upper course could be as a result of seasonal nature of the river at this 
part of the study area.  This type of degradation products cause knock-on-effect in the form of oxygen deficiency 
and fish kill.    
 

5. Conclusion and Recommendations 
Despite the environmental education, it is bound to be complimentary increase of anthropogenic activities in 

order to satisfy the demand of people residing around the area. Anthropogenic forces are affecting negatively on 
the natural state of River Chanchaga by reducing the quality and natural beauty of the river surrounding, habitat 
quality and affect the availability of quality aquatic resources that can served as food and beautifying the riverside 
environments. 

There should be public enlightenment programme so that people will be able to identify the implications of 
indiscriminate anthropogenic forcing practices along the river. Human activities that may lead to pollution or 
contamination and eutrophication such as riverside deforestation, irrigation farming and other related 
environmental issues should be regulated and even discourage. Deforestation should be discouraged to avoid 
causing ecological imbalance of River Chanchaga aquatic ecosystem. 
 

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https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Benthic%20macro%20invertebrates%20as%20indicators%20of%20environmental%20quality%20of%20an%20urban%20Stream%20Zaria,%20Northern%20Nigeria
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