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Over twenty-five gullies in Jos City and environs were mapped using QuickBird images and Garmin 12 Global Positioning System. The study revealed that about fifty per cent of the gullies had developed from natural erosion of banks of rivers and streams and their distributaries, while the other fifty per cent resulted from decades of mining and quarrying, and other human interference with the natural environment like destruction of vegetation, misuse (and even destruction) of soils and inappropriate channeling of run-off water. In each of the two classes mentioned above, there are big, medium and small gullies. The big gullies are wide (>20m), deep (>5m) and long (>200m). The small gullies are narrow (<3m wide) and less than 50m long. Most of the gullies have very steep slopes. Because of the large number and wide distribution of the gullies it is suggested that a holistic approach be applied in managing them. This should include stabilization of the gully heads and slopes, construction of an adequate network of waterways (possibly channelization - including canals), tree planting on, and grassing of vulnerable areas, encouraging environmentally friendly land uses, preventive measures against development of new gullies through public enlightenment programmes, legislation and monitoring. International development agencies like the United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) should be invited to evaluate the problem with the ultimate aim of rendering technical and financial assistance. Because of the huge financial cost that may be involved, it may be wise to rehabilitate one section of the city at a time. Current efforts by the Nigerian Government, the Plateau State Government, local communities and some entrepreneurs to address this problem, are highly commendable. They have been engaged in land reclamation, stabilization of some gully heads and slopes, and conversion of some of the ponds in the gullies to holiday resort and agricultural use in irrigation. This not withstanding, there is genuine need to quicken action on this problem because of the abiding threat the gullies pose to lives and property.
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