This study examines the impacts of cement dust emissions on physicochemical properties of soils within 10km radius from the plant (factory) in Ashaka area, Gombe State. Standard procedures used in soil sampling involves collection of soil samples along a transect aligned in the northeast to southeast direction in order to reflect the dominant two opposing air masses direction; the north-easterly (November-April) and south-westerly (May-October) air masses. Physicochemical analysis of the soils was carried out using standard laboratory procedures in the laboratory. Results of the analysis has revealed that the cement dust which contains high calcium has impacted the soils by increased soil pH, calcium (Ca) content, total bases, base saturation and pH dependent cation exchange capacity (CEC). The impact is observed most within the radius of 0-5km from the plant with a diminishing impact from the 5km towards the 10km radius. Similarly, results of the analysis has shown also that there are signs of slight impaction of bicarbonate (HCO 3) and electrical conductivity (EC) arising from the cement dust on the soils. Recommendations were offered to monitor the dust falling on the soils through trapping and utilizing the dust emissions to cement.

Gombe metropolis has been experiencing urban flooding particular in the last two decades. The flood disasters of 2004, 2012 and 2014 sub-periods, 1995-2004 and 2005-2014,

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This paper aimed at examining local peoples’ perceptions on climate variability and change and strategies adopted in combating the impacts of the changes in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. A total of 242 questionnaires were administered to households’ heads in the eleven wards of the Local Government Area. Descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, percentage and mean scores were used in data analysis. The result revealed that majority of the local people have a very good knowledge of climate variability and change in terms of higher temperature, higher rainfall intensity and variability, and the occurrence of extreme weather events such as flood and drought. Findings also revealed that community disobeying God, deforestation, bush burning, combustion of fossil fuel and pollution were the major causes of climate variability and change as perceived by the respondents. The most significant impacts of climate variability and change as perceived by the local people were decline in crop yields, decline in forest resources, water shortages and decrease in soil fertility. These impacts have resulted to rural-urban migration in the area. Sustainable adaptation strategies adopted by the local people are water harvesting, the use of fertilizer/animals dung to improve crop yield, irrigation agriculture, planting of crop varieties and drought resistant crops. It is recommended that strategies for combating impacts of climate variability and change should take into account the traditional and religious beliefs of the people; and there is need to educate the local people to appreciate the scientific basis of climate variability and change.

This study generally classifies air pollutants on the basis of: primary or secondary, natural or anthropogenic, chemical composition, physical state, and the space scales of their effects. Air pollutants that affect air quality in Nigeria were discussed based on natural and anthropogenic sources. The natural sources include: sand dust, sea spray, volcanic activities, smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires among others, while the anthropogenic sources include: vehicular emissions, mining activities, industries such as cement companies and quarry factories, agricultural practices and solid waste dumps among others. Some of the atmospheric pollutants that posed greatest threat to human health were equally examined. They include: Sulphur dioxide (SO2) which can react with water vapor (H2O) in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and thus acid rain; particulate matter (PM) with less than 10 μm, particularly fine particles (PM2.5 ) and particles in the fine fraction that are smaller than 0.1 μm (ultrafine particles), can carry toxic chemicals which are linked to cancer; carbon monoxide (CO), even in very small concentrations, can prevent oxygen from being delivered through the body major organs; ozone which is a highly reactive gas causes oxidation of a number of macromolecules within a biological system and produces free radicals that can damage DNA molecules and cause carcinogenesis. Based on the aforementioned, this study recommends that priority should be given to the establishment of air monitoring stations in all urban centers of the country in order to provide accurate and continuous information on air quality. Keywords: anthropogenic pollutants, atmosphere, particulate matter, pollution