Solid Mineral Production and Environmental Pollution

The study empirically diagnosed the effects solid minerals production had on environmental pollution in Nigeria. Covering a data period of 1986 to 2022, the study utilized mining and quarrying, metal ores and coal production as forms of solid mineral production while carbon (CO2) emission is employed as proxy for environmental pollution. Yearly time series information from the Nigeria’s Apex Bank’s statistical bulletin and the Development Indicators’ data base of the World Bank were gathered on the variables, and were examined by applying the analytical processes of the Autoregressive Distributive Lag econometric technique. The resultant outcomes of the study established that except mining and quarrying that was integrated at level, CO2 emission, metal ores and coal production were stable at first differencing. Particularly, the dynamic study confirmed that mining and quarrying, metal ores and coal production activities exerted positively substantial effects on carbon emission in Nigeria in the short run and long run. Premised on the results, it is concluded that solid mineral production substantially contributes to environmental pollution in Nigeria. The study recommended among others that government should ensure implementation of the mineral development plan in order to ensure environment friendly solid mineral production processes.