THE SOCIOECONOMIC EFFECTS OF SAND MINING IN A POST-SUBSIDY REGIME IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was undertaken to assess the socioeconomic effects of sand mining activities in a post-subsidy regime in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Specific objectives were to: identify the drivers of sand mining in Bayelsa State; examine the effects on the socioeconomic activities of the people in Bayelsa State. The activities of sand extraction constitute a major threat and challenge to the socioeconomic activities of the people in the study area. The study adopted the cross-sectional survey research; the 396 copies of questionnaires were distributed in each of the five respective communities. The assigned sample size of each community was obtained using the systematic sampling technique at every five house interval until the assigned sample size for each community was obtained. Data for the study were obtained using a set of questionnaires, oral interviews and field observations in order to assess the socioeconomic effects of sand mining in Bayelsa State. The findings revealed that the removal of fuel subsidy has reduced the purchasing power of families; it affected the standard of living in families and increased the level of poverty in the country. The study concludes that sand mining has both beneficial and harmful impacts in a post-subsidy regime, with sustainability challenges which are being exacerbated by the economic turmoil brought about by the fuel subsidy removal. The study recommends measures such as monthly cash transfers to vulnerable citizens, subsidized essential goods, and price controls on essential items to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal in the country.