Solid Waste Management in Nigeria:
Problems and Issues
J. C. AGUNWAMBA
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Nigeria
Nsukka, Nigeria
ABSTRACT / This paper is a presentation of the problems of
solid waste management in Nigeria and certain important
issues that must be addressed in order to achieve success.
At the core of the problems of solid waste management are
the absence of adequate policies, enabling legislation, and
an environmentally stimulated and enlightened public. Gov-
The mountainous heaps of solid wastes that deface
Nigerian cities and the continuous discharges of indus-
trial contaminants into streams and rivers without
treatment motivated the federal government of Nigeria
to promulgate Decree 58 for the establishment of a
Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) on
30 December 1988 (Federal Military Government 1988).
A national policy on the environment was formed and
the goals of the policy include: to secure for all
Nigerians a quality of environment adequate for their
health and well-being; to raise public awareness and
promote understanding of the essential linkages be-
tween the environment and development; and to encour-
age individual and community participation in environ-
mental protection and improvement efforts (FEPA
1989). The implementation of the policy depends on
specific actions directed towards major sectors and
problem areas of the environment. As regards the solid
waste sector, the specific actions desired include collec-
tion and disposal of solid waste in an environmentally
safe manner; setting up and enforcement of laws,
regulations, and standards; encouragement of public
participation; environmental monitoring; and imposi-
tion of penalties on defaulters to encourage compliance
(FEPA 1989, FRN 1991).
In spite of the formulation of FEPA and a national
environmental policy, the environment has not been
adequately protected. Interest is mainly on aesthetics,
which is rarely achieved. Waste collection is irregular
and restricted to the major cities. Improperly sited open
dumps deface several cities, thereby endangering pub-
KEY WORDS: Solid waste; Management; Problems; Solutions; Nigeria
Environmental Management Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 849–856
ernment policies on the environment are piecemeal where
they exist and are poorly implemented. Public enlightenment
programs lacked the needed coverage, intensity, and conti-
nuity to correct the apathetic public attitude towards the en-
vironment. Up to now the activities of the state environmental
agencies have been hampered by poor funding, inadequate
facilities and human resources, inappropriate technology,
and an inequitable taxation system. Successful solid waste
management in Nigeria will require a holistic program that
will integrate all the technical, economic, social, cultural, and
psychological factors that are often ignored in solid waste
programs.
lic health by encouraging the spread of odors and
diseases, uncontrolled recycling of contaminated goods,
and pollution of water sources (Adegoke 1989, Singh
and others 1995).
The poor state of waste management is attributable
to an inadequately formulated and poorly implemented
environmental policy, among other factors. Besides,
waste management is a multidimensional problem that
has been aggravated in Nigeria by rapid urbanization
and population growth rate. Therefore, the state envi-
ronmental agencies are continuously faced with an
increasing amount of solid wastes to handle. Neglect of
the economic, social, psychological, political and cul-
tural life of Nigerians in the formulation and implemen-
tation of programs has also contributed immensely to
unsuccessful waste management. The intent here is to
present a critical discussion of the problems of solid
waste management in Nigeria.
Planning and Implementation of Policy
Generally, the policy of the government on solid
waste management is not comprehensive. For instance,
while some efforts are made to elicit public cooperation
during the nationwide monthly environmental cleanup
exercise, no effort is being made to develop appropriate
disposal sites. In some cities, wastes are simply gathered
together and heaped on the already overflowing open
dumps. Sometimes the main objective seems to be to
move the waste out of public sight. It is obvious that,
although there is a program to keep the immediate
environment clean, there is no adequate plan for
proper waste disposal.
r 1998 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
850 J. C. Agunwamba

Table 1. Composting standards in advanced water sources (3000 µg/liter) results in acute gastrointes-
countriesa versus chemical characteristics tinal disturbances with vomiting, epigastric burns, and
of composts in Ibadan (Nigeria)b diarrhea (Norderg 1990). Waterborne diseases, kidney
Composting standards (mg/kg dry solids) damage, and cancer may be caused by drinking water
contaminated by cadmium in excess of 10–15 µg/day
Country Pb Ni Cd Hg Cr Cu Zo
(Norderg 1990). Lead concentrations in natural waters
Holland 150 50 1.5 1.5 100 50 250 are low (up to 2 µg/liter) but may be increased by
France 800 200 8 8 — — — discharges from industries and solid waste dumps. Lead
Austria 500 100 4 4 150 400 1000 in excess of 30 µg/100 ml may affect the hematopoietic,
Germany 150 50 2 1.5 100 100 400
Ibadan 11.8 14.0 2.0 0.7 142 15 61
the central nervous, and the reproductive systems
(Norderg 1990). In parts of Lagos some of the waters
aSource: Victor House Co. (1993).
showed highly acidic pH (as low as 3.4). This condition
bSource: Srindhar and Bammeke (1986).
accelerates the dissolution of heavy metals (Sridhar and
Bammeke 1986).
Table 1 shows the composting standards of some
Where good policies exist, their implementation
countries against the quality of compost produced in
might constitute the major obstacle. Accompaning
Ibadan, a highly residential city in Nigeria (Sridhar and
every project with the anticipated environmental im-
Bammeke 1986). The quality was high and exceeded
pact assessment is a requirement for its acceptance.
the standards in Germany and Holland with respect to
However, many development experts ignore the regula-
chromium. One would have expected a high chemical
tions that are intended to protect the environment.
content due to contamination from metallic compo-
Profits, expediency, and political interests often take
nents of the waste since no source separation is prac-
priority over the environment.
ticed. However, Ibadan has a very few industries. Be-
There are several important areas of solid waste
sides, the quality of compost depends on such factors as
management about which no policy exists. These areas
the type of food eaten in the community, degree of
as well as the problems created by absence of such
waste source separation practiced, season, and method
policies and their implementation are presented below.
of decomposition (Krogmann 1991).
Waste Reuse and Recycling In areas where municipal solid waste (MSW) is used
for animal feeding (e.g., Fegge in Onitsha, a commercial-
There is no recycling program. Only a limited
ized and industrialized city in southern Nigeria), these
amount of recyclables such as cans, plastics, bottles, and
metals may find their way into animals and conse-
papers are stored in homes and later sold to scavengers.
quently pose a serious threat to animal and human
The activities of scavengers can have a great impact on
health.
the economy and waste management (Agunwamba and
The high cost of industrial raw materials and dwin-
others 1996) if the scavengers are properly organized,
dling foreign exchange should have motivated the
enlightened, and provided with the necessary economic
establishment of public recycling ventures to research
and institutional support. At present, however, their
waste reuse and produce raw materials for local indus-
contributions are limited by the absence of government
tries (Agunwamba 1994a,b). There is no committed
policy to encourage reuse and recycling.
policy yet on waste minimization. Introduction of this
There is no policy on composting, unlike in some
concept and its adoption by the industrial sector can
other countries where it constitutes an important waste
stimulate research in waste reuse and cut wasteful
management tool. France produces 650,000 metric
practices, apart from increasing production efficiency.
tonnes of organic material, and Spain was processing
Commitment to the waste management policy of reuse
about 20% of its organic wastes into compost (Victor
and recycling is a positive step towards reducing environ-
House Co. 1994). In 1994, Germany had about 100
mental risk while improving economic performance.
composting facilities in operation and 17 under con-
struction, and it planned to boost the processing capac-
ity to 2.4 million metric toones annually. Composts are Disposal
applied in landscaping, agriculture, reclamation, com- There are two sanitary landfills in the whole country.
mercial horticulture, hobby gardening, and vineyards. Solid waste is mainly disposed of on controlled landfills,
In Nigeria, some people dump commingled solid waste open dumps, and waterbodies. Uncontrolled burning
on their farms for soil enrichment, being ignorant of of dumps as well as burning of refuse from homes such
the possible contamination of their crops and water as secret documents, rags, and tires are common.
sources (Krogmann 1991). Excessive copper in natural Different types of wastes including hazardous wastes are
 Solid Waste Management in Nigeria 851

Table 2. Waste incineration

Incineration plants
Population With energy recovery Quantity of wastes Portion of incinerated wastes
Country (million) facilities Total incinerated (3106 t/yr) that is MSW (%)
Sweden 8.6 23 23 1.8 55
Denmark 5.2 38 38 1.7 65
The Netherlands 14.9 6 12 2.8 40
France 55.8 115 170 7.6 42
Spain 39.8 5 22 0.7 6
Italy 57.6 5 94 2.7 18
UK 57.1 Few 34 1.3 8
Hungary 10.6 0 1 0.3 9
USA 248.3 128 168 28.6 16
Japan 123.2 Few 1893 32.0 72
Canada 23.1 Not available 17 1.7 Not available
Source: The ISWA Year Book (Møller 1993/94).

dumped together without any real awareness as to their Table 3. Total revenue generated, subsidy,
compatibility with one another. Unlike in advanced and salary costs for Enugu State Environmental
countries, incineration is not used as a waste reduction Sanitation Agency (January–May 1991)
or disposal technique. Table 2 shows that apart from
Revenue Headquarters
Hungary, all the advanced countries listed have many generated subsidy Salary
incinerators. However, it is only in Sweden, Denmark, Month (tax, etc.), (US$) (US$) (US$)
and Japan that the quantity of MSW is greater than 50%
January 3922.55 3409.20 6381.70
of the total waste incinerated. MSW forms 72% of the
February 6322.90 2650.00 6925.90
total amount of waste incinerated in Japan, which has March 6872.55 2000.00 6264.20
the largest total number of incinerators (1893). Incinera- April 6485.00 1400.00 6935.00
tors play a major role in waste processing and disposal May 5134.40 3438.50 7049.80
probably because of scarcity of land for exploring other
waste disposal methods. In contrast, only 16% of the
total waste incinerated in the United States of America Economical Aspects
is MSW. While an incinerator can be very useful in solid
waste processing, its comparison with other techniques Funding
in terms of economy, efficiency, energy conservation, Poor funding is one of the serious problems hamper-
and appropriateness to national environmental needs is ing solid waste management in Nigeria (ESESA 1991,
important before an optimum choice can be made. LSWDB 1991, Adewole 1992, UNDP Report 1978,
Zubairu 1992). Unlike in developed countries, which
Others receive enough revenue allocation from the state bud-
Policies aimed at minimizing waste generation are get, most state agencies in Nigeria operate with little
lacking. The economic price of goods determines subsidy from the state governments and sanitation tax.
customer choice rather than their environmental friend- In Enugu State, for instance, from January to Septem-
liness. There is no growing public sensitivity to the ber 1991, the total revenue generated by the Enugu
relationship between products and the environment, State Environmental Sanitation Agency (ESESA) and
and as mentioned before, the manufacturing sector is headquarters subsidy minus salary costs leave very little
not motivated effectively to reduce waste. Interests lie for effective waste management (Table 3) (ESESA
mainly on profitability, sometimes at the expense of 1991).
environmental protection. Hence, products are not Despite World Bank assistance and the commercial-
designed for reduced environmental impact. The policy ization program adopted in Lagos State to generate
of waste management must be comprehensive and more revenue, the Lagos State Waste Disposal Board
include plans for waste minimization during each stage (LSWDA) has financial problems. Various organizations
of a product life cycle from the use of raw materials, owe the board several million dollars (LSWDB 1991,
production process, to the ultimate disposal of the Adewole 1992).
wastes. The condition is even worse in other states where the
852 J. C. Agunwamba

Table 4. Refuse collection levels for various niences. Generally, the total revenues are still not
establishment in Onitsha, Nigeria enough to sustain a successful waste management pro-
Monthly sanitation gram.
Type of establishment levels (US$) The government does not have the capacity to
provide sanitation services directly to the population. A
Residual plots
major rethinking is required for successful manage-
Single rooms 1.25
Flats 6.50 ment of waste, which has been neglected for a long
Undeveloped plots 6.50 time. It has become necessary to provide management
Government quarters and estates 6.50 through the private sector (Kinley 1992). A study
Special institutions conducted in Canade shows that private-sector compa-
Barracks Negotiatable
nies can cut costs, lower absenteeism, and increase
Schools Exempted but liable to
fines upon inspection productivity in municipalities.
and default
Banks 650.00 Environmental Accountability
Commercial houses
Small 6.50 The economy is structured in such a way that the
Medium 25.00 impact of production and manufacturing activities on
Large 250.00 the natural environment is ‘‘externalized’’ (i.e., the cost
Factories of environmental damage associated with solid waste
Small 65.00
Medium 130.00 disposal is not incorporated into the prices of goods and
Large 650.00 services). Hence, there is little or no economic incen-
Factories producing toxic wastes 950.00 tive to reduce waste and the associated environmental
Petrol/service station pollution and degradation. As shown in Table 4, estab-
Fuel selling only 13.00 lishments are charged fees in proportion to waste
Fuel selling with mini-market 65.00
Hotel generated. On the surface, it appears to have the
21 rooms or more 380.00 potential to stimulate waste reduction activity across a
20 rooms or less 190.00 wide range of waste generators. However, since the costs
Hospitals can easily be passed along to customers, it may result in
Government or mission owned Exempted, but liable to no substantial change in waste management behavior.
fines upon inspection
or default. The levies based on the classification in Table 4 are
Clinics and maternity 65.00 not equitable and are too general. For instance, with
Medium (private) 130.00 respect to the residential classification, the number of
Large (private) 380.00 occupants of most buildings is not proportional to the
Markets, motor parks, and Under local government number of rooms. It is common to find a family of ten
slaughterhouses control, liable to fines
upon inspection. living in one room while a family of three may be
occupying a duplex. Furthermore, some companies,
although small, may generate as much waste as large
Source: ASESA Report (ASESA 1991).
ones, depending on what they produce. Obviously, such
a classification can never result in waste reduction.
environmental agencies depend solely on meager gov- An efficient method of pricing municipal solid waste
ernment funding. At present ESESA has no disposal management services should be developed. This is
vehicles. Poor funding has forced it to hire all its important not only with respect to generation of funds
vehicles and maintain a very small staff on a permanent to maintain the services but also as a control over waste
basis (ESESA 1991). In Kano State, where no charge is generation. It is possible to incorporate an economic
made for waste collection and it is being financed by the incentive/disincentive that encourages/discourages the
government alone, only two zones of the original four generation of certain wastes. The unit pricing method,
zones are functioning due to lack of loaders, tippers, whereby the generator is billed according to the level of
and bulldozers (UNDP Report 1978, Zubairu 1992). generation of wastes and service rendered, has been
In order to supplement the subsidy received from suggested as an efficient and equitable method (Rick-
the headquarters and the levies, many state sanitation man and Reimers 1993/94). The method can raise
authorities raise some additional funds by providing consumer awareness of the cost of waste collection
landscaping services and maintenance of flower gar- services, reduce the amount of waste generated, and
dens. In addition, they desludge septic tanks and motivate recycling activities. Consumers may even
latrines and collect fees from users of public conve- change their shopping habits by buying products that

generate less waste. This method may increase illegal
dumping on farms and roadsides, however, and for
multiple family dwellings, where there are common
waste bins, the tenants’ feeling of responsibility for the
level of solid waste they produce is reduced.
Technical Aspects
Maintenance
The capability of a solid waste system to consistently
and reliably achieve its goal depends largely on the
operation and maintainance of the system. No matter
how efficient a solid waste system is theoretically known
to be, it will fail to achieve the required efficiency if
there is no effective operation and maintenance. Most
of the sanitation agencies in Nigeria are not maintain-
ing their facilities effectively because of a lack of
well-structured maintenance programs. In Kano City,
for example, the refuse collection container trucks are
repaired in the local government area works yard,
which also services vehicles from all the other depart-
ments in the local government. This results in long
waiting times before repair. Insufficient vehicles lead to
refuse accumulation at illegal sites.
Similarly, in Onitsha the continuous breakdown of
the container trucks hinders maximum utilization of all
the trucks in service within the city. Much time is spent
on putting these vehicles in order due to workshop
delays and lack of equipment and spare parts (Table 5)
(ASESA 1991).
Sometimes the sanitary landfill equipment breaks
down. The landfill then in effect becomes an open
dump, as waste is no longer compacted and covered
properly. Burning becomes frequent and scavengers
and workers run the risk of contracting respiratory
diseases as they inhale smoke. Flies, rodents, and other
disease vectors begin to thrive. Lack of grading and soil
cover enable rain water to infiltrate refuse and produce
leachate that contaminates groundwater reservoirs.
Inappropriate Technology
Occasionally, equipment or facilities that do not fit
the situation are provided—machines that cannot be
well operated by local labor or used advantageously
under local conditions, machines that lack local spare
parts; or machines needing different techniques of
operation and maintenance that the staff does not
know. The tractor-trailer fitted with hydraulic loading
devices acquired by Kano Municipality and scheduled
to start operation in 1973–1974 was soon damaged
(UNDP Report 1978). Such fittings could help reduce
loading time, but if the technology cannot be main-
Solid Waste Management in Nigeria 853
Table 5. Breakdown of container trucks
in September 1991
Remarks
Date In workshop (N ) Working (N )
10 2 3
25 4 1
26 4 1
27 3 2
28 3 2
tained locally or if adequate provision is not made for its
continuous use, then it is a waste of resources.
Some facilities are inappropriate, e.g., waste contain-
ers that are too high for children. As a result some waste
litters the ground around the bins. Other facilities are
introduced before the public is adequately informed on
their use. Systems and equipment that have been
successfully put into use in the developed countries are
applied without consideration for the peoples’ culture.
Hence, after operation for a while, the system or
equipment becomes useless due to lack of repair and
replacement, manpower deficiencies, and so on.
Operations
It is not uncommon for collection operations to be
delayed or cancelled because of a shortage of fuel, lack
of funds, or wasted time as collection vehicles wait their
turn for fuel in a petrol station. Often the waste
collection crew does not consider areas of high waste
generation. Usually, collection begins at the points
nearest to the dispatch station. Before they can reach
the remote areas of the city where generation is very
high, it is nearly the end of the working hours. This
procedure results to overflowing bins and containers
with their attendant health risks, blockage of roads,
odor nuisance, and filthy environment.
Psychological Aspects
Attitude of the Government
The federal and state governments as well as the
environmental protection agencies have not integrated
behavioral human factors in solid waste management.
Often waste management programs involve the introduc-
tion of new strategies and technologies to the public.
Proper enlightenment programs and patient extension
efforts are required not only to elicit the initial appropri-
ate response from the public but also to reinforce it. It is
erroneous to believe that the response will be repeated
automatically and that extension efforts are no longer
required after the first response. Through radio and
television, efforts are being made to reach the public,
854 J. C. Agunwamba

Table 6. Times spent on various activities by truck
4-4 in October 1991 in solid waste collection
and disposal in Onitshaa
Various times (min)
Date TT TC TH TI
2 480 58 80 95
7 480 58 195 10
16 480 58 160 40
24 480 58 245 105
30 480 58 130 105
aComputed from ASESA Report Chart, October 1991. TT 5 total time
for which a crew is paid (8 h); TC 5 total time spent in collecting solid
waste on the assigned route; TH 5 the total time spent hauling waste
from the end of one route cycle to the disposal site and returning to
the start of the next; TI 5 incentive time or time for which the
collection crew is paid at the end of the day but does not work; TN 5
time spent by the crew during a workday, including periods of
mechanical breakdown, authorized or unauthorized break period.
but the education programs are neither intensive nor
persistent. Consequently, most have reverted to their
old behavior of apathy towards waste issues. Further-
more, since about 78% of the population still lives in
rural areas and most are illiterate or are literate but
living without electricity, the majority of Nigerians is not
reached.
Industries are required to comply with regulations
that will cut down their production capacity or force
them to embark on costly control measures. Time is
needed to adjust; hence, regulations on reduction of
pollution should not be introduced and enforced all at
once.
Attitude of the Public
Peoples’ beliefs, social ideals, morals, and attitudes
affect the way they treat waste. Wealth is associated with
lavish spending, which generates much waste as a
by-product. People who mingle with waste are associ-
ated with dirt and poverty. Hence, the public often fails
to cooperate with the waste workers, as they look down
on their work. Similarly, in homes waste removal to bins
is left as dirty work for children to do. Since the bins
were not designed with their small stature and lack of
understanding, wastes get dumped on the ground. The
consequence is that the workers waste extra time in
waste collection. The image the public holds depicts the
waste workers as lower grades of beings who deal with
useless materials. Most have yet to realize that environ-
mental quality is not the exclusive problem or concern
of any single person. Hence, some extension efforts
have failed to evoke public cooperation.
In Nigeria, the general public attitude towards waste
management is poor. A man may live in a neatly kept
house but refuse to cooperate with his fellow residents
in keeping the surroundings of the building clean. As
long as the waste materials are not inside his house he
feels no concern. The same attitude was seen in some
residents of Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo (Lagos State). Since
TN
they made private arrangements to have their waste
247 removed from the premises to the curbside, they re-
217 fused to pay their rate even though the government
222 waste workers are the ones to transport the waste to the
72
187
disposal point (Adewole 1992).
Industrialists are interested in only their products
and not in the waste discharged. Ignorance, materialis-
tic tendencies, and apathy have often prevented them
from adopting good environmental practices.
Attitude of Waste Workers
Most of the waste collection and disposal agencies
are government-owned. Hence, the degree of efficiency
is very low; the nonproductive time (time spent by the
crew during a workday, including periods of mechanical
breakdowns, authorized or unauthorized break peri-
ods) is very high. Table 6 shows the times spent on
various activities involved in waste collection and
disposal for some days in October 1991. The non-
productive time was determined by Clark and Lee’s
(1976) method. The least nonproductive time for
vehicle No. 4-4 on 24 October 1991 was 72 minutes
out of 480 minutes in the day. Only 130 minutes was
spent in loading for the two trips the vehicle made on
that day. Hence, it is the most productive. For the other
days, however, the unproductive times were quite high,
ranging from 187 minutes to 247 minutes. On 2
October 1992 as much as 305 minutes was spent on
loading the truck. This could be inefficiency on the part
of the crew.
The generally low morale of public service workers
due to poor remuneration and stagnation in promotion
must be eliminated to ensure a highly motivated and
efficient work force.
Group Behavior
The agencies have also ignored the important role of
group behavior. For instance, little effort has been made
to involve the already existing social structure, such as
social clubs and age grades in evolving a successful waste
management program. Unfortunately, the strong social
structure that exists in rural areas is almost absent in the
cities. In an urban area the population is usually
hetereogeneous and has little cohesion. A fragmented
form of social structure is preserved as people from the
same local governments or clan meet monthly to discuss
their common interests. Such groups could be mobi-
lized to achieve greater public participation. However,

because the residences of members of each clan or local
government residing in a city are not necessarily close to
each other, it is difficult to mobilize them for effective
environmental action. Generally, the governments have
to resort to a well-planned and sustained information
program to motivate the urban dwellers.
Education
Only a few institutions in Nigeria offer specialized
courses on waste management. Hence, there is a short-
age of skilled labor in the waste management sector.
Most of the state environmental agencies lack ad-
equately trained personnel (Singh and others 1995).
For instance, in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, there
are only four full-time workers. In order to effectively
solve waste management problems in this country,
manpower planning must be brought to focus. Provi-
sion of qualified operation and monitoring personnel
will help to increase management efficiency. The dump-
ing of 5800 tonnes of chemical and industrial wastes
from Italy near Koko port is a good illustration of the
lack of expertise in waste management. Local experts
were unable to give solid proof as to whether the waste
was radioactive. The federal government had to invite
specialists from abroad (Omuabor 1988). Education of
waste workers on waste management issues is essential.
Consumers as well as industrialists need accurate infor-
mation on waste matters in order to elicit from them the
appropriate response.
Other Considerations
Political Aspects
The location of facilities are often influenced by
those in power. Since the decision makers may not be
experts in waste management, such decisions are often
irrational and uneconomical. Implementation of good
environmental policies might be stopped completely or
delayed because some people in power are either
adversely affected or they do not appreciate the need
for environmental protection.
Record-Keeping
Systematic records of waste data are virtually nonex-
istent except in a few cities (e.g., Onitsha). Even in the
few cases where records are kept, those who keep the
records do not appreciate their importance and hence
are often careless. The lack of data implies that impor-
tant analytic tools such as mathematical models, system
analysis, and decision theories will not be applied in
decision making.
Solid Waste Management in Nigeria 855
Corruption
The notion in some places that, even if guilty of
environmental offenses, one could always escape punish-
ment by offering bribes has always prevented people
from taking environmental issues seriously. In some
cities bribery and corruption have hindered effective
waste management. A good example is the case where a
resident of Papa Ajao Estate in Mushin (Lagos State)
refused to pay his waste collection bill because he
claimed that ‘‘Vans come to clear refuse of those who
are able to grease the palms of the driver and his aides’’
(Adewole 1992).
Planning of Cities and Infrastructure
The lack of good roads and well-planned streets
hinder efficient management and collection of solid
wastes. Sometimes hauling time is unusually extended
because of traffic congestion. Consequently, the num-
ber of trips per day is reduced.
Summary and Conclusion
Successful waste management in Nigeria is ham-
pered by several problems including lack of financial
and technical support, inadequate human resources,
absence of enabling legislations, and unintegrated poli-
cies. The interrelationship between the different as-
pects of solid waste management and Nigerian societal
characteristics have not been adequately analyzed and
integrated. Solid waste problems should be considered
from a more holistic point of view since they are
interrelated, with no fixed boundary, and revolve around
crucial issues far beyond the waste profession. The
solution to solid waste problems in Nigeria will remain a
mirage until all related problems have been analyzed
adequately and brought into proper focus.
The following recommendations should be consid-
ered seriously for successful solid waste management:
1. Study of the dependence of psychological and
sociocultural factors on attitudes towards waste matters
with a view to evolving more sustainable and effective
environmental education programs. The existing social
clubs and age grades should be mobilized to achieve
greater success in environmental education.
2. Improvement of the method of funding in order
to enable successful implementation of sustainable
waste management programs. This may be achieved by
allowing greater participation of the private sector. A
more equitable pricing system for municipal solid waste
services should be worked out, which is also a means of
reducing the rate of waste generation.
3. Supervision and financing of research and moni-
toring programs for pollution control.
856 J. C. Agunwamba
4. Stimulation of the interest of workers through
provision of adequate financial remuneration and
proper incentives. This will attract the needed man-
power as well as reduce labor mobility from the waste
management sector to other areas of the private sector.
5. Development of integrated policies on waste
minimization, reuse, recycling, and disposal. One of the
essential aspects of these policies is the framework for
adequate provision of waste collection, transportation,
and disposal facilities.
6. Provision of enabling legislation for successful
implementation of a waste program. The legislation
should include an outright ban of open dumping. This
ban, however, can only be successful if adequate bins
and collection facilities are first worked out.
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Adewole, A. 1992. End of refuse seige. Tell 48:20–21.
Agunwamba, J. C. 1993. Poverty, sustainable development and
environmental technology. Pages 90–108 in Proceedings of
the Nigerian Society of Engineers annual conference, 30
November–4 December. Kaduna, Nigeria.
Agunwamba, J. C. 1994a. Environmentally sound manufactur-
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