ABSTRACT

This study is to examine the influence of politics on solid waste management and identify all those political issues that have affected the management of solid wastes in some chosen local governments in Oyo state between 2011 and 2016.  The objectives of the study are to examine the influence of economic, social, cultural and political factors on solid waste management in the state. The method of award of solid waste management contracts to Public Private Partnership (PPP) and to assess the ability of local governments in terms of finance to manage solid wastes.  The study was also undertaken to evaluate the effects of politicization of solid waste management on the residents of Oyo state.

Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the study with the use of both qualitative and quantitative data.  The sample size was 400 and the instruments for collecting data was a self-designed questionnaire, interview guide and review of existing literatures.  The study  covers 6(six) local governments in Oyo state namely, Akinyele, Surulere, Ibadan North East, Orire, Ibarapa central and Ido local governments.  These local governments cover the geo-political zones and cognisance was also taken of the low, medium and high density in terms of solid waste generation.  Stratified sampling was used to divide the population into sub-groups while the respondents were selected in proportion of age, level of education, financial status and profession.  25 respondents were interviewed.  ANOVA and regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

The findings indicated that Ho1: shows the joint effect of independent variables (Economic factor, Social Factor, Political Factor and Cultural Factor) to the prediction of the Effects of Politicisation of Solid Waste was significant.  Also H02 shows in the table that there was significant relationship between Effects of Politicisation for Solid Waste Management and Ineffectiveness of Local Government to manage Solid Waste (r = .476*, N= 354, p<.05).

The conclusion reached from the results and finding is that there is politicisation in the solid waste management sector and it is having a negative effect in the performance of the sector.  It was therefore recommended that political will is necessary for there to be effective performance of solid waste management in the state.

Keywords: Politics, Solid wastes, Solid Waste Management, Politicisation and

                    Environment.

ABSTRACT

This study is to examine the influence of politics on solid waste management and identify all those political issues that have affected the management of solid wastes in some chosen local governments in Oyo state between 2011 and 2016.  The objectives of the study are to examine the influence of economic, social, cultural and political factors on solid waste management in the state. The method of award of solid waste management contracts to Public Private Partnership (PPP) and to assess the ability of local governments in terms of finance to manage solid wastes.  The study was also undertaken to evaluate the effects of politicization of solid waste management on the residents of Oyo state.

Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for the study with the use of both qualitative and quantitative data.  The sample size was 400 and the instruments for collecting data was a self-designed questionnaire, interview guide and review of existing literatures.  The study  covers 6(six) local governments in Oyo state namely, Akinyele, Surulere, Ibadan North East, Orire, Ibarapa central and Ido local governments.  These local governments cover the geo-political zones and cognisance was also taken of the low, medium and high density in terms of solid waste generation.  Stratified sampling was used to divide the population into sub-groups while the respondents were selected in proportion of age, level of education, financial status and profession.  25 respondents were interviewed.  ANOVA and regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

The findings indicated that Ho1: shows the joint effect of independent variables (Economic factor, Social Factor, Political Factor and Cultural Factor) to the prediction of the Effects of Politicisation of Solid Waste was significant.  Also H02 shows in the table that there was significant relationship between Effects of Politicisation for Solid Waste Management and Ineffectiveness of Local Government to manage Solid Waste (r = .476*, N= 354, p<.05).

The conclusion reached from the results and finding is that there is politicisation in the solid waste management sector and it is having a negative effect in the performance of the sector.  It was therefore recommended that political will is necessary for there to be effective performance of solid waste management in the state.

Keywords: Politics, Solid wastes, Solid Waste Management, Politicisation and

                    Environment.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.      Background to the Study

Human's existence is highly connected to the environment and the importance of the environment cannot be overemphasised.  The environment has created a comfortable habitat for man through science, technology, religion and politics.  Albeit the environment is a pre-requisite for good and sound health, ignorance of humans to laws of nature and over-exploitation of natural resources have negatively impacted on the environment.  Factors such as overpopulation, industrialisation, urbanisation, citizens' life-style, rural-urban migration, globalization, social development, unchecked technological advancement, resources exploitation, intensive agriculture and lack of adherence to environmental regulations have further aggravated the problems of the environment (Ross, 2012).

One of the dreadful consequences of population growth and urbanisation is the problem of solid waste management. This is because, as population increases, so does the unhealthy by-products, which are in form of solid, liquid and gaseous wastes resulting from human's activities. The issue of solid waste management is a global concern and many nations, especially developing nations are struggling to find permanent solution to the problem inherent in solid wastes.  In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, about 178 governments converged together and agreed that a more sustainable solid waste management was needed in both developed and developing nations.  The discussion centred on looking for ways to minimise wastes, maximise reuse, recycling and promote sound environment with ability to have a proper disposal and treatment system of solid wastes in all nations of the world. Although many nations are making incredible efforts towards achieving a proper solid waste management system and practice, not much has been achieved in many developing nations even twenty four years after the conference.  Solid waste management still remains a significant environmental challenge in many places in developing countries and especially in Nigeria. In many parts of Nigeria, wastes are still disposed in undesignated areas, open places, gutters, rivers, sometimes on road medians causing environmental and public health problems (Bhatia, 2013).

Various governments of the world, particularly developing countries are finding it extremely difficult to have an effective solid waste management. This is because so much garbage is still lying uncollected in the streets causing inconveniences and environmental pollution resulting in serious health risk.  Many nations are beginning to realise that the factors responsible for the low performance of solid waste management are social, economic, political, technological and cultural. An important factor which has been neglected in the issue of solid waste management is political will and support from the three tiers of government.

The indiscriminate littering and dumping of wastes among the people in many developing countries is inimical to solid waste management and does have negative effects on the environment. The aim of solid waste management is to prevent or reduce the impact of waste on human health and local amenity and to maintain cleanliness and public health of a community.

The management of solid wastes has become not only one of the most challenging environmental issues but also a serious political issue that has remained unresolved in many parts of Nigeria.  The method of collection, transport, treatment and disposal of solid wastes is relatively a difficult problem in many parts of the nation. Research bodies and policy makers all over the world are concerned on what should be the best approach to solid waste management since most efforts being made by professionals in many cities, local governments, States and federal authorities have proven unsuccessful.

The extent to which waste management is effective and sustained depends greatly on the system of governance and the nation's political will and machinery. This will range from the national, through State to the local governments. All tiers of government is involved in the issue of solid waste management in formulating laws and ordinances as requirements for the disposal of solid wastes and even in the management of wastes.  Environmental issues are handled by the Ministry of Environment at the federal and State levels and Environmental Health department at the local government levels in Nigeria (Arinze, 2014).

As observed by Ajani (2008), the methods adopted for solid waste management in many places in Nigeria and in particular in Oyo State have not matched up with the challenges of solid wastes, as wastes generation exceeds collection capacity.  Oyo State is part of the 36 States in Nigeria and has an estimated population of seven million people. Governments at all levels in Oyo State have not been able to device adequate plan or policies that will resolve the challenges of solid waste management and it appears that Oyo State does not have a proper waste management scheme as management of solid waste in every part of the State has been a great challenge for decades.  It is evident that solid waste management in Oyo State is plagued with inefficient collection methods, insufficient coverage of the collection system, improper disposal, lack of institutional arrangement, insufficient financial resources, absence of bylaws and standards, inappropriate technology, poor data information for planning, wrong attitude of waste generators amongst others. These challenges are causing serious health concern with significant environmental, social and health costs in Nigeria and especially in many local governments of Oyo State, where there are dumping of garbage by road sides, in rivers and many other open spaces which facilitates breeding of disease vectors such as flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats and other pests.

The Oyo State governments have continued to make concerted efforts to curb the challenges plaguing solid waste management sector in the State. In 1984, the Federal government of Nigeria introduced the monthly sanitation exercise for every last Saturday of every month to allow people take care of their surroundings.   The Oyo State government, became part of the programme and the people of Oyo State were made to observe the exercise while officials of the Ministry of Environment go out to monitor the activities of the public.

Between 1988 and 1996, the Oyo State government implemented the Oyo State Urban Rehabilitation Project which was a programme designed for: Channelization of the Ogunpa river, establishment of the Ibadan Solid Waste Management Authority and Rehabilitation and Urban renewal of Yemetu Aladorin, Mokola and Ogbere rivers.  Oyo State has a long history of flooding as a result of solid waste management problems.  Most of the flood disasters in the State have been as a result of the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in the Ogunpa and other rivers in the State.  Examples of such floods are that of 1902, 1924, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1978 and the most devastating of them all before that of August 2011 was the one of 1980 that claimed so many lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.  This made the Oyo State government to approach the World Bank for the rehabilitation and chanellisation of the Ogunpa River in 2011.

In 1997, there was an initiative by the State government to turn waste to organic fertilizer.  The plant for this was commissioned in 1998. Also, in 1999, the Oyo State government introduced Kerbside Sweeping in preparation for the World Youth Soccer Tournament.  From thence, street sweeping, registered refuse collectors to collect refuse all became parts of the efforts of the government to curb the challenges of solid waste in the State.  There was also the introduction of refuse drums and containers for the residents to collect and empty their refuse. 

In 2009, the Oyo State government increased the routine maintenance of Urban Roads Environment in Ibadan metropolis from 40 to 52 and also increased the monthly allocation of the Ministry from N3,348,879.4 to N9,856,003.38.  Between  2009 and 2010, additional sweepers were employed and the State government bought additional trucks.  Also bought were the smaller trucks called Ro-Ro for routs that are too small for the big trucks to ply.

The 2011 flood was not really caused by the Ogunpa but as a result of overflows of other rivers such as,  Ona, Ogbere and Dandaru which was also a great calamity to the State.  The flood led the State government to approach the World Bank for funds to finance infrastructures in Oyo State.  The funds from the World Bank made the channelization of the Ogunpa river possible.  But in spite of all the efforts, Oyo State is still plagued with serious solid waste management problem.

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