The Effects of Small-scale Stone Quarrying on Poverty Reduction among Youths in Zamfara State, Nigeria

The paper examined the effects of small-scale stone quarrying on poverty reduction among youths in Zamfara State. The paper is based on the argument that small-scale stone quarrying has the potentials to reduce poverty in low income settings. Zamfara is one of the poorest states in Nigeria where youths are engaged in small-scale quarrying. The paper examined the extent to which small-scale quarrying has been able to reduced poverty among youths in the State. The sample size of the study comprised of 400 respondents. Structured interview was used as the primary instrument of data collection. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select quarry sites while simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents for the study. Data collected was presented in tables and percentages for better understanding. The outcome of the study revealed that youths between ages of 26-35 years were actively involved in small-scale stone quarrying in Zamfara State. The study found out that small-scale stone quarrying had a positive effect on poverty reduction among youths in Zamfara State. This is because after joining small-scale stone quarrying, majority of youths had improved access to food, healthcare facilities, housing, sleeping materials, clothing and ownership of means of transportation. The major factors limiting youth involvement in small-scale stone quarrying were lack of modern quarrying equipment, absence of personal protective gadgets and ignorance about government regulations in the mining industry. The study therefore recommends that government should assist quarry workers with modern quarry equipment, personal protective gadgets and sensitization on government regulations in the mining industry.