ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION: A CULTURE NECESSARY FOR SUSTAINING
AND MAINTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT. A CASE STUDY OF EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA,
EDO STATE.
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to
the Almighty GOD who has been my strength and shield all the way and to my
Loving and Caring parents Mr. and Mrs.
Okporua who created the supportive environment for me to be able to carry
out this study. All because the good LORD provided my parents with wisdom,
experience and finance, they supported me vitally by offering wisdom based on
the good advice they offered and financially in my quest of fulfilling this
course.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My immeasurable and profound gratitude to God Almighty
who crowned my efforts with his goodness and grandeur for HE alone gave me the
strength and courage to always work with a foresight of success. Undoubtedly,
this great conquest and remarkable success is by your tender mercies and loving
kindness.
I must appreciate Dr. E. Osayande, my able, caring, loving and resourceful course adviser and supervisor for his magnificent support and encouragement. For the remarkable, intelligible, counseling and guiding personality that you possess Sir, you have set a pace that I will follow in due course. Your mentor-ship and care will forever remain in my heart and as an erudite scholar that you are Sir, I will always cherish you and take a quick reminisce of your superb efforts with bliss.
Special thanks to my loving, caring, encouraging and
dependable mother Mrs. Monica Okporua who through her financial and moral
support inspired me. No doubt the love and care of mothers is transcendental
and obeys no manner of distance, space or time and you mummy, have lavished
such love and care for me all in favour of my academic growth. I must
appreciate my father Mr. Ephraim Okporua for his financial support and care which
have been of great help to me.
Sincerely, I must appreciate all lecturers who have
being great mentors to me in my academic pursuit and of course in completion of
this study. My profound gratitude to Mr. Henry Nzemeke; Mr. Jude Nzemeke; and
Mr. Ife Nzemeke for the financial and moral support they lavished on me with
love all geared towards my academic success, they are indeed the best uncles I
know. A great deal of thanks to my friend Egwaoje Daniel for his financial
support and to Victoria Obulor; Odion Didi; and several others who assisted me
in one way or the other.
May the good Lord who spoke creation into existence
and who gives good reward to them that diligently seek him bless you all
according to his riches in Glory in JESUS CHRIST name Amen.
ABSTRACT
This
study is designed to analyze the extent and impact of environmental sanitation
in Nigeria within the spheres of Egor local government area in Edo state and
the sanitary effectiveness and efficiency that can be realized through
environmental sanitation when practiced as a culture. To achieve this, five
research questions were formulated and tested in the course of the study.
To
explore these research questions, descriptive statistical technique which
comprised of simple percentage frequency count was used and the questionnaire
was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected revealed
that the majority of individuals within the society need reasons for them to
become actively involved in environmental sanitation and the government has an
important role to play in making environmental sanitation a culture. It also
affirmed the fact that the culture of a society does affect the likelihood of
an individual to practice environmental sanitation.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page … … … … … … … … ii
Certification … … … … … … … … iii
Dedication … … … … … … … … iv
Acknowledgement … … … … … … … v-vi
Abstract … … … … … … … … … vii
Table of content … … … … … … … viii
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to Study … … … … … … 1
1.2 Statement
of Problem … … … … … … 5
1.3 Objective
of the Study … … … … … 6
1.4 Basic
Assumption of the Study … … … … 7
1.5 Research
Questions … … … … … … 8
1.6 Significance
of the Study … … ... … … 9
1.7 Scope
of the Study … … … … … … 10
1.8 Limitation
of the Study … … … … … … 10
1.9 Definition
of terms … … … … … … 11
CHAPTER
TWO: Review of Related Literature
2.1 Environmental
sanitation – A conceptual framework … 14
2.2 Historical
perspective of environmental sanitation in
Nigeria … … … … … … … … 19
2.3 Culture
and environmental sanitation … … … … 25
2.4 Constitutional
provision for environmental sanitation
in Nigeria … … … … … … … … 30
2.5 Importance
of environmental sanitation … … … 34
2.6 Factors
limiting the successful implementation and practice of environmental sanitation
in Nigeria … … … … 37
2.7 Summary
of review … … … … … … 46
CHAPTER THREE: Method of
Study
3.1 Design of the study (research design) … … … … 49
3.2 Population … … … … … … … … 49
3.3 Sample … … … … … … … … 50
3.4 Sampling technique (procedures) … … … … 50
3.5 Instrumentation … … … … … … … 51
3.6 Validity of instrument … … … … … … 51
3.7 Reliability of instrument … … … … … 52
3.8 Methods of data collection … … … … … 52
3.9 Data analysis (method) … … … … … 53
CHAPTER FOUR: Data Analysis
and Discussion of Results
4.1 Data analysis … … … … … … … 54
4.2 Discussion of findings … … … … … … 66
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary,
Conclusions and Recommendations
5.1 Summary … … … … … … … … 70
5.2 Conclusion … … … ... … … … 73
5.3 Recommendation … … … … … … 74
Bibliography … … … … … … … 77
Appendix … … … … … … … … 80
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background
to the Study
The physical environment is
very important to the entire universe and Nigeria as a Nation has been battling
to reduce the risk resulting from poor sanitary conditions as evident in our
respective communities of abode. All of which is a result of the perturbing
consequence a polluted environment seems to pose or present. Apart from the health
significance of an un-sanitize environment, it has also become a malaise
requiring immediate counter process to curtail the effect.
Maintaining an environment
that will promote health disease prevention is the sole objective of
environmental sanitation (Nwankwo, 2004a and Gupta and Ghai, 2007). With this
theory, it is requisite to say that never before since the history of Nigeria
has the need for Environmental Sanitation become more imperative and urgent
thereby sharpening our consciousness concerning our environment. I.e. in
securing a better life, we need to put a culture of sanitizing the environment.
This is where it becomes important to critically look at “Environmental
Sanitation: a culture necessary for sustaining and maintaining the environment”.
Amadi (2002) opined that environmental
decay is a perennial problem in Nigeria. Available records showed that 41.53%
of the Nigeria populace disposes their waste within their premises, 37.8% of
the country’s populace dispose of waste into nearby bushes and only 13% use
sanitary dustbin. In all, 74.4% of Nigerians use one method or the other
adjudged as in sanitary (NDHS, 2003). This is to say that the sanitary need of
the environment regarding how it has been properly sanitized and utilized seems
negligible as it seems to be of little or no concern to humans. This is evident
in the research by NDHS (2003) on sanitary activities in the environment.
In Nigeria, since
independence, the utmost importance of environmental sanitation has been and is
still overlooked on the basis of the nonchalant and lackadaisical attitude that
the Nigerian citizenry including the government has toward environmental
sanitation. With this, Nigerians has been urged to participate actively in
environmental sanitation activities to curb disease conditions in the country
(NOA, 2011) in lieu to their environmental laxity well inferred and described
by the incessant incline of waste, junks or rubbish in the environment {waste
in nearby bushes, waste around residential vicinity and unhealthy dumpsite}. A
look at the various synopses of laws regulating sanitary habits and
environmental sanitation in Nigeria brings to our consciousness that the
Federal Republic of Nigeria is well aware of the sanitary needs of the
environment. But to the best of our knowledge, the efficacy of these witty laws
and edicts appears to be gloomy as environmental and waste hazards,
inappropriate open dumps e.t.c are still on the rampage. These are obviously
the results of individual, societal and organizational laxity on environmental
issues, not mindful of the essence and importance of environmental hygiene that
becomes a reality via environmental sanitation practices.
According to UNESCO (2003),
any relations between people and their environment are embedded in culture.
This succinctly describes the importance of culture, a collective effort
towards sustaining and maintaining the environment. Environmental sanitation is
a witty interaction process with the environment fostered by humans. Therefore,
it becomes important to view environmental sanitation as a wholesome culture
necessary for preventing disease condition and securing the health of the
environment and its inhabitants, requiring the collective effort by all when
considered a value by all.
The aims and objective of
environmental sanitation when wholesomely practiced towards environmental
sustainability is succinct and transparent to man. Numerous verdict as a result
of an inquest in to the various timelines, impact and effectiveness of environmental
sanitation in Nigeria, evidently indicates the inevitable efficiency and
effectiveness of environmental sanitation when practice as a culture by all. This
became even more significant and Lucid with respect to the persuasive comment
by NOA in 2011.
“Nigerians has been urged
to participate actively in environmental sanitation activities to curb disease
conditions in the country” (NOA, 2011).
Thus affirming that the coherence
of multiple behaviours by individuals in cleaning, sanitizing, or the removal
of junks, rubbish or refuse (waste) from the environment and ensuring a safe
environment, can and will elicit a greater good in making our environment
sustainable and adaptable. Hence the need to rekindle the enthusiasm (a sense
of interest) of bringing to light or reality a safe environment through that
necessary culture “Environmental Sanitation”. With this therefore, the
indispensible quiddity of environmental sanitation as a prerequisite culture
for securing environmental health and the concomitant human health can be
achieved when it is wholesomely and efficiently practice by all as a norm.
STAEMENT
OF PROBLEMS
As a
prerequisite culture that it is, environmental sanitation in its wholesomeness
has been limited in terms of its effectiveness and efficiency towards the
complete cleaning and removal of waste off the environment.
Before now,
environmental sanitation has experienced a non-quantifiable neglect on the
basis of it been viewed as a routine activity or process by countless
individuals. Aside it’s passed neglect, conflicting cultures (customs, values
and beliefs) to environmental sanitation have actually set up a vie in
restricting the extent of its impact or effect on the environment. This is
because some cultures are nemeses to this maintaining culture.
The
population trend and growth rate in EDO State particularly seems to deter the
successful implementation of witty environmental sanitation policies therefore
limiting the effect and success of environmental sanitation. It is also important
to note that with the diverse personalities with of course different
personality traits making up the entire EDO state population with regards to
some environmentally unfriendly attitudes, the success of environmental
sanitation can be likening to a “will o’ the wisp”. I.e. a dream yet to be
realized (an unobtainable goal/aim). This was swiftly described in the
statement made by Nwankwo.
“All environmental problems are
essentially caused by growth in population” (Nwankwo, 2004).
Therefore,
the problems of this study on Environmental Sanitation ranges from the pass
neglect on the importance of environmental sanitation through conflicting
cultural values to population growth rate and diverse personality traits
towards environmental sanitation. Other problems that might deter the success
of environmental sanitation include the mismanagement of fund/fiscal resources
and the relative lack of experienced personnel both in quantity and quality.
OBJECTIVE
OF STUDY
This research work has been systematically designed to
clearly study Environmental Sanitation: a culture necessary for sustaining and
maintaining the environment a case study of Egor Local Government Area. The
specific objectives of this study are:
1. To elicit and describe how a sustainable environment can be
achieved by a goal related public on environmental sanitation.
2. To determine how a sanitary way of life by individuals,
society and even companies can effect a sustainable environment and as well
circumvent and reduce the rate of indiscriminate waste disposal.
3. To make recommendations on how environmental sanitation
process and method can be made more effective and efficient
4. To suggest recommendations on how to make environmental
sanitation a culture amongst the Nigerian citizenry, particularly in Egor Local
Government Area in Edo State.
5. To evaluate culture’s impact and effect on the success or
growth of environmental sanitation and good sanitary habits.
6. To evaluate the importance and necessity of environmental
sanitation as a requisite culture.
BASIC
ASSUMPTION
In the
course of the study, some inherent assumptions were made and they include:
1. Environmental sanitation is a cultural process and thus a
culture in its pure sense.
2. Environmental sanitation as a culture can effect a
sustainable, healthy and safe environment.
3. Maintaining and sustaining the environment via environmental
sanitation is and should be a collective effort.
4. Environmental sanitation is a national and global culture
for any ideal society, organization or nation.
5. The efficiency and practice of environmental sanitation
experienced a neglected in the past.
RESEARCH
QUESTION
For the
purpose of efficacy and accuracy of this study, and serving as a tentative or
temporal solution to the already identified problems, the below research questions
are of utmost importance to well apprise the researcher on the best and
preferable way to carry out this research. They include:
1. Should a general consensus on Environmental Sanitation as a
culture be initialized?
2. Does the past environmental sanitation neglect have any
profound effect on the contemporary status of environmental sanitation?
3. Does the already built culture with respect to customs and
traditions hinder the extent and efficiency of environmental sanitation?
4. Does the Government have a pivotal role to play in
initializing the culture “Environmental Sanitation” to be practiced by all
citizens?
5. Can environmental sanitation become a necessary culture that
is practice by all?
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
Ideally the
idea and usefulness of any project, programme or study that worth the effort is
seen in its significance. With this therefore, the significance of this study
are to:
1. Contribute to the general consensus of the importance of
environmental sanitation
2. Serve as a source of relevant percept and literature for
further research.
3. Build up an interest and active participation of Nigerian
citizen in environmental sanitation issues.
4. Develop a cultural attitude of sanitary practices amongst
individuals.
5. Severe as a basis for further research in analyzing
environmental sanitation: a culture necessary for sustaining and maintaining
the environment.
SCOPE
OF STUDY
This
research is restricted and delimited to environmental sanitation: a culture
necessary for sustaining and maintaining the environment within the sphere of
Edo state, Egor Local Government Area precisely.
The study
succinctly looks at the activity, effect, status, impact and degree or extent
of environmental sanitation as a culture within the locality “Egor Local
Government Area”.
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY
In the course of this study, several limiting intricacies
were experience tending to limit the extent of the research. However, these
contingent factors did not affect the validity and reliability of the study on
Environmental Sanitation.
Some of these limiting
factors include:
1. Insufficient finance to help increase my sphere of
observation and other activities intricate to the research.
2. Not enough time to gather other and enough data pertinent to
the study.
3. Little relevant literature.
DEFINIITION
OF TERMS
This research utilized a variety of terms with their concept
slightly different from their ordinary and common usage although witty and
correct. For the purpose of transparency of this research, these terms will be
appropriately defined in the percept in which they have been employed in this
study.
1.
Environment:
The surroundings of, and influence on a particular system, item or area of
interest.
2.
Sanitation:
The policy, quality and practice of protecting health through hygienic
measures.
3.
Environmental
Sanitation: The control of environmental factors that forms links in disease
transmission or that affects the well being of people.
4.
Social
Environment: The culture that an individual lives in and the people or institution they interact
with.
5.
Culture:
A complex whole including the knowledge, belief, act, art, morals, laws,
customs and any other capabilities and
habits acquired that characterizes a particular society or nation.
6.
Society:
An uncompromising group of people sharing cultural aspect with unified aims and
objectives.
7.
Maintaining:
The act of conserving items, materials, systems and others with specific
qualities.
8.
Sustaining:
An act of maintaining or keeping in existence.
9.
Environmental
Health: It refers to the theory and practice of assessing and controlling
factors in the environment that can potentially impair and affect health.
10.
Environmental
pollution: The introduction of any substance in such characteristic and for
such duration as to produce a deleterious effect on all living things in an
area in terms of their viability, relative abundance, health, mortality e.t.c.
11.
Environmental
Hygiene: Activities aimed at improving or maintaining the standard of basic
environmental condition affecting the well-being of people.
For more information on this project/academic thesis, please call: +2348063775655
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