INHABITANTS’ PERCEPTION OF FACTORS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION IN IBADAN CITY

The study is a survey which investigated the perception of inhabitants of Ibadan metropolis on the factors that can enhance improvement and sustainability of environmental sanitation in Ibadan metropolis. The study sample consisted of 933 inhabitants from 5 LGAs selected through multi-stage sampling procedure. Twenty-five households were selected from the last and smallest sampling unit (the ward) in each LGA. The Inhabitants Improvement and Sustainability Perception Questionnaire was used to collect data which were analysed using descriptive statistics. The demographic profile of the inhabitants measured in terms of relevant indicators like education, occupation, income, type of houses and population density of the location they lived, indicated a mix of those in the high, middle, and low socioeconomic status. Inhabitants perceived the listed factors as important to improvement and sustainability of environmental sanitation in the city: provision of waste cabins in strategic locations in the city, curriculum review to include environmental health education, environmental laws enforcement, regular meetings on environmental issues and campaigns among others. The state government and the state environmental agencies in charge should pay particular attention to the identified enhancing factors in order to achieve an appreciable impact at sustainability. Introduction Waste generation is a human problem in most developing countries of the world. In Nigeria and many other African urban centres, waste management constitutes a major problem. Refuse dumped along roads and in water-ways constitute not only health problem but also causes environmental and social menace. Onibokun, Adedipe and 44 O.A. Adigun & E.A. Okwilagwe Sridhar (2000) reported that waste management is an endemic problem that has characterized the African cities in crises. These scholars are of the view that the problem of waste management is mainly due to the rapid rate of urbanization and lack of adherence to sound physical planning and development practices. Adekola (2004) observed that it is difficult to institute a sustainable waste management policy that is effectively responsive to the ubiquitous problem of environmental health, socio-culturally induced waste disposal habit and pervasively nagging problem of poverty. Onibokun et al (2000:59) further observed that “. the mechanisms and instruments for collection, disposal, processing, treatment, recycling and utilisation have defied solution at the statutory level. ” Other writers like Oluwande (1974) commenting on the economic implication of waste management observed that the collection and transportation of solid wastes to dumpsite takes as much as 75% of the total expenses on waste disposal in Nigeria. This estimation would probably increase considering the prevailing low value of the Naira in present day Nigeria. Waste disposal would seem to be a great problem for governments to manage not only in Africa but all over the world, and not only an African problem. According to Adekola (2004:1), who described it as an endemic problem in all the major cities of the world, contended that in spite of the level of technological development of the developed countries of the world, their height of sophistication and high level of environmental knowledge, are not spared of the problems of waste management especially in their major cities. The European Union in a European directive 7S/442/ EC (nd) defined waste as “an object the holder discards, intends to discard or is required to discard. Under the waste framework directive, this is an amendment of the early directive which stated that once a substance or object has become waste, it will remain waste until it has been fully recovered and no longer posses a potential threat to the environment or to human health. The United Kingdom Environment Protection Act (1990) stated that waste includes any substance which constitutes a scrap material, an effluent or other unwanted surplus arising from the application of any process or any substance or article which requires to be disposed of which has been broken, worn-out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled, this is supplemented with anything which is Inhabitants’ Perception of Factors for . 45 discarded otherwise dealt with as if it were waste shall be presumed to be waste unless the contrary is proved. The UK Waste Management licensing regulation in 1994 amended the above Environmental Protection Act of 1990 and defined waste as any substance or object which the producer or the person in possession of it discards or intends or is required to discard but with exception of anything excluded from the scope of the waste directive. These various definitions of wastes are all encompassing and do not only refer to solid waste. Waste is inevitable anywhere human activities take place. It is generated in different forms solid, gaseous and liquid. Waste collections under each of the forms of waste are of varied origin and they possess different characteristics. However, Solid wastes are generated from domestic activities, industrial, clinical waste and commercial refuse. Contreau (1982) cited in Onibokun et al (2000), categorised solid waste into household wastes, commercial refuse, institutional refuse, street sweeping, construction debris. Tejuosho (2004) expanding the constituents of waste, reported that solid waste are from domestic and industrial in origin which include municipal wastes (residential, institutional, commercial and municipal waste); agricultural wastes; mining and mineral wastes; and industrial waste. In another instance, Forum International (1984) cited in Adekola (2004) sees solid waste as the more familiar type of refuse which include food wastes, old newspaper, packaging materials, yard wastes and other items that are discarded by the typical family such as bulky appliances, old furniture, dead trees, junked automobiles, street sweeping, construction rubbles and demolition debris. Based on the above views of solid waste, it could be said that any solid material that is considered a nuisance and have been discarded can be referred to as solid waste. In time past, most of the domestic materials used by man were degradable materials for instance leaves for wrapping food, wood for furniture. Tejuosho (2004) reported that major sources of solid wastes in Oyo State are domestic and industrial in origin. Industrial contribution to solid waste in Oyo State is much more pronounced within Ibadan where over 70% of about 161 industrial establishments present in the State are located. In recent times, most of the degradable materials have been substituted for nondegradable materials such as polythene for wrapping and packaging; and wood is now replaced with plastic materials for 46 O.A. Adigun & E.A. Okwilagwe packaging products. This has increased the volume of waste generated in Ibadan and other cities. In order to achieve positive and lasting efforts at a clean and healthy environment, the target population needs to be involved and carried along especially in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the environment for the smooth running and achievement of the effectiveness and efficiency of any initiative. These researchers strongly believe that the active participation of the inhabitants is essential for a people oriented programme targeted at the sustenance and continuity of proper waste disposal and environmental health in Ibadan metropolis. Participation is essential and central to the success and sustenance of any project especially projects that are geared toward the development and improvement of a community. Participation entails involving the people especially the beneficiaries of the programme in order that the project enjoy continuity and the desired impact, otherwise, any other plan set in motion, could thwart all efforts and resources put into it. Adekola (2004) observed that participation cannot be divorced from any development programme be it economic, environmental, social or physical development programmes or projects. The views of Adekola (2004), Nwocha (1999) and Lammers (2000) are that participation whether direct or indirect is a fundamental principle. Tejuosho (2004) views community participation as the process by which individuals and families assume responsibility for their own health and for those of the community and develop the capacity to contribute to their own development and that of the community. Akin-Aina and Salau (1992) also observed that no conservation area can be effectively protected without the support of the communities in the area, they proposed management plan that involve the local inhabitants in the protection and management process, and intensification of economic activities in the project area. Due to the problem that waste management poses, it becomes necessary that institutions in all tiers of government from federal to state and local government be established who will oversee to the proper management. Even private agencies and nongovernmental organisations are not to be left out. In affirmation of this view point Nnaji (2002:79) had rightly declared that "the responsibility of maintaining a good environmental health has to be Inhabitants’ Perception of Factors for . 47 a joint operation of the government, her agencies, corporations, private and groups. At the federal government level in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Housing, and Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) are in charge of environmental issues. FEPA plays a regulatory role at the federal level and oversee environment issues in the country. The role of FEPA in relation to solid waste management and the laws it has enacted are well documented in Onibokun et al (2000). These are, however highlighted here: (i) Study the most reliable systems that are appropriate for local, domestic and industrial wastes, (ii) Specification of waste disposal and treatment that will