Research Article

Geospatial Assessment of Waste Disposal Site's Impact on Air Quality in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Muhammad Lukuman1*, Coovi A. B. Tohozin1, M. A. Oyinloye2, A. E. Adzandeh1, Maccido Armiya'u Shehu3, Patrick Yusuf Diwa3, Matthew Olumide Adepoju3, Godstime James3, Olaide Monsor Aderoju3, Dalhatu Ahmad3, Idris Jega Muhammad3, Ahmad Rufa'i Ahmad3
1 African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST), Ile-Ife, Nigeria
2 Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria
3 National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria
* Corresponding author: muhammadlukuman@afrigistjournals.com
Published: Jul, 2026
DOI: 10.54222/ajlaem.2026.y0q4448m
Pages: 1-15
Views: 48
Downloads: 6

Abstract

Rapid urban expansion and inadequate waste management in northern Nigerian cities have increased open dumping and burning of waste. This is contributing significantly to air pollution and related health risks in the region. This study assessed the impact of waste disposal sites on air quality in Sokoto metropolis using a geospatial analytical approach. Forty-nine (49) active waste disposal sites were identified and mapped. Air quality parameters, including particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) were analyzed. Secondary datasets included administrative boundaries from the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, road and water body data from OpenStreetMap, and population data from WorldPop. The data were processed and analysed in ArcGIS 10.8. The results show that distribution of waste disposal site were clustered in the central and north-eastern areas of the metropolis (ratio = 0.818, z = –2.438, p = 0.015). Air quality results showed elevated particulate matter levels around several waste disposal sites, with concentrations decreasing with distance from the sites. Hazard zonation maps generated through Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) indicated predominantly moderate-risk zones, with localised high-risk areas near active waste disposal sites. Population overlay analysis revealed that about 90% of residents in the metropolis live in moderate to high exposure zones. The findings demonstrate that waste disposal practices contribute to localised air quality degradation and increased environmental risk. The study recommends improved waste management systems, enforcement of buffer regulations, and adoption of GIS-based planning to support sustainable urban environmental management.

Keywords

Waste disposal sites air quality spatial interpolation method population exposure Sokoto Metropolis

References

  1. Abaje, I. B., Sawa, B. A., & Ati, O. F. (2022). Climate change in extreme Northern Nigeria: Evidence from rainfall trend in Sokoto State. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management (or ResearchGate publication).
  2. Abila, B., & Kantola, J. (2013). Municipal solid waste management problems in Nigeria: Evolving knowledge management solution. International Journal of Environmental, Chemical, Ecological, Geological and Geophysical Engineering, 7(6), 303–308.
  3. Abubakar, I. R., Dano, U. L., & Bala, A. (2022). Assessment of environmental impact of solid waste generation and disposal in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Environment, 18(2), 134-145. Retrieved from https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jagrenv/article/view/235987
  4. Bala, A., Ibrahim, H., & Yusuf, Y. A. (2022). Relationship between rainfall and temperature variability and the yields of selected grain crops in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
  5. Boeing, G. (2020). OSMnx: New methods for acquiring, constructing, analyzing, and visualizing complex street networks. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 65, 126–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2017.05.004
  6. Chen, J., Li, C., & Wang, S. (2021). Spatial modelling of air pollution using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Atmospheric Environment, 244, 117–129.
  7. ESRI (2023). ArcGIS Pro Documentation. Environmental Systems Research Institute.
  8. Giusti, L. (2009). A review of waste management practices and their impact on human health. Waste Management, 29(8), 2227–2239
  9. Gorjian, S., et al. (2023). Spatial assessment of environmental risk using GIS-based multi-criteria approaches. Sustainable Cities and Society, 89, 104356.
  10. Guerrero, L. A., Maas, G., & Hogland, W. (2013). Solid waste management challenges for cities in developing countries. Waste Management, 33(1), 220-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2012.09.008
  11. Herfort, B., Lautenbach, S., de Albuquerque, J. P., Anderson, J., & Zipf, A. (2021). The evolution of humanitarian mapping within the OpenStreetMap community. Scientific Reports, 11, 3037. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82404-z
  12. Hoornweg, D., & Bhada-Tata, P. (2012). What a Waste: A Global Review of Solid Waste Management. World Bank.
  13. Ichipi, E. B., & Senekane, M. F. (2023). An evaluation of the impact of illegal dumping of solid waste on public health in Nigeria: A case study of Lagos State. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(22), Article 7069. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20227069
  14. Jerrett, M., Burnett, R. T., C. Arden Pope III, Ito, K., Thurston, G., Krewski, D., Shi, Y., Calle, E., & Thun, M. (2015). Spatial analysis of air pollution and mortality in Los Angeles. Epidemiology, 16(6), 727–736. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ede.0000181630.15826.7d
  15. Kumar, P., et al. (2020). The nexus between urbanization, air pollution and public health: A systematic review. Environmental Pollution, 260, 114024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.114024
  16. Li, J., & Heap, A. D. (2021). Spatial interpolation methods applied in environmental sciences: A review update. Environmental Modelling & Software, 139, 105016.
  17. Li, X., Zhang, Y., & Zhao, Y. (2020). GIS-based spatial interpolation approaches for environmental data: Applications and performance evaluation. Sustainability, 12(14), 5634.
  18. Mustapha, A., Sobowale, A., et al. (2025). Spatial modelling of air quality and pollution propagation around an active dumpsite in Abeokuta, Nigeria. International Journal of Epidemiology and Medical Diagnostics.
  19. Nanda, S., & Berruti, F. (2021). Municipal solid waste management and landfilling technologies. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 19, 1433–1456.
  20. NearWeather. (2024). Sokoto, Nigeria ‒ Climate data and averages. Retrieved from https://www.nearweather.com/location/2322911
  21. O'Sullivan, D., & Unwin, D. (2010). Geographic information analysis (2nd ed.). Wiley.
  22. Olofin, E. A. (2008). Wudil within the Kano Region: A Geographical Synthesis. Kano: Adamu Joji Publishers.
  23. Pope, C. A., & Dockery, D. W. (2016). Health effects of fine particulate air pollution: Lines that connect. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 56(6), 709–742.
  24. Shabani, T., & Jerie, S. (2023). A review of the applicability of environmental management systems in waste management in the medical sector of Zimbabwe. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195(6), 789.
  25. Stevens, F. R., et al. (2020). Disaggregating census data for population mapping using WorldPop. Scientific Data, 7, 1–12.
  26. United Nations Environment Programme (2015). Global Waste Management Outlook. Nairobi: UNEP.
  27. World Bank. (2022). What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management.
  28. World Health Organization (2021). WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines: Particulate Matter (PM₂. ₅ and PM₁₀), Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide. Geneva: WHO.
  29. Yao, X., Fu, B., Lü, Y., Wang, S., & Liu, M. (2019). Evaluation of spatial interpolation methods for environmental variables in heterogeneous landscapes. Ecological Indicators, 107, 105608.
How to Cite

Lukuman, M., Tohozin, C. A. B., Oyinloye, M. A., Adzandeh, A. E., Shehu, M. A., Diwa, P. Y., Adepoju, M. O., James, G., Aderoju, O. M., Ahmad, D., Muhammad, I. J., & Ahmad, A. R. (2026). Geospatial Assessment of Waste Disposal Site's Impact on Air Quality in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria. AFRIGIST Journal of Land Administration and Environmental Management, 6(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.54222/ajlaem.2026.y0q4448m

M. Lukuman, C. A. B. Tohozin, M. A. Oyinloye, A. E. Adzandeh, M. A. Shehu, P. Y. Diwa, M. O. Adepoju, G. James, O. M. Aderoju, D. Ahmad, I. J. Muhammad, and A. R. Ahmad, "Geospatial Assessment of Waste Disposal Site's Impact on Air Quality in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria," AFRIGIST Journal of Land Administration and Environmental Management, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1-15, July 2026. doi: 10.54222/ajlaem.2026.y0q4448m

Share this article:
Facebook X / Twitter LinkedIn
Download PDF View Full Text (PDF) Back to Articles