Refuse Dumps And The Environment: A Case Study Of Some Selected Cities In Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the level of environmental pollution in the nation by focusing on the degree of accumulation of house – hold wastes, industrial scraps or wastes, vehicular spare –parts, human –physiological wastes or depositions etc in the urban cities of the nation. A total of fourteen urban cities spread all over the five geographical zones of Nigeria were studied. It comprised of former Federal Capital (Lagos), the current Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other twelve urban cities. These cities were chosen using stratified random sampling technique. The study revealed unabated accumulation of refuse dumps along the city streets, market areas, drains of all these urban cities except in Calabar, Cross River State and Ijebu Ode, in Ogun State. Efforts put in place to control these refuse by some municipal councils had either been non – existing or insufficient, thus not yielding any obvious effect in many of the cities. Its adverse effect on public and environmental health is discussed.

Keywords:Refuse dumps, environment, urban cities, Nigeria.

International Journal of Emotional Psychology and Sport Ethics Vol. 10 2008: pp. 217-236