ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG URBAN SLUM RESIDENTS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS, ENUGU STATE

Abstract

Environmental pollution and hazards have contributed alarming risks to human life over many years. It calls for public attention in which Agenda 21 was rooted with emphasis on environmental awareness, formal education, and training as a process by which societies can reach their fullest potential in the prevention of such risks. Building strong mechanisms for environmental awareness can go a long way to minimize environmental challenges of the urban poor particularly in slums. Rapid urbanization growth has caused accelerating rate of urban poverty and the process of urbanization has many relationships with slum formation. Still in Nigeria, just as in other developing nations of the world, slums exist in most cities and urban centers like Enugu metropolis. The main environmental problem in the selected slum areas shows manifestations in hazardous locations; lack of basic services; substandard housing/building structures; overcrowding; unhealthy living conditions (open defecation, open sewers, uncontrolled dumping of waste), high level of criminal activities, bad roads and polluted environment. The negative impact of the slums on the environment makes it necessary to pay more attention to the analysis of human environmental behavior and its social interaction. As a result of these, residents’ awareness and appreciation of their environment provides a foundation for a healthy relationship to the environment. The study centres on the evaluation of the environmental awareness among urban slum dwellers in Enugu Metropolis. A simple random sampling technique was employed to arrive at the sample size of 398 households. Physical observations and photographs were also used in collecting the data which were analyzed using the software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The hypothesis was tested using One-Way-ANOVA and the result shows that p<0.05 level (F (8.280)= 3.172. P=0.001). Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative which signifies that there is a significant difference in the level of environmental awareness in the study area. However, media and education, both had marked effects on dissemination of environmental awareness. Improved environmental conditions with increased environmental awareness on proper waste disposal and pollution control can reduce the environmental hazards in slum residential areas in Enugu metropolis were recommended.