Evaluation of Sanitation Practices in Ibadan South East LGAs of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Sanitation is paramount to human life because it contributes to safety from communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as playing important roles in human socio- economic development and sustenance of cultural values. The aim of this paper is to highlight unwholesome practices that are inimical to good sanitation in Nigeria with particular focus on Ibadan South East LGAs of the Metropolis. Survey method was largely used in this study with questionnaire administered on 233 respondents selected from 40 households spatially spread across the LGAs. The analysis shows that domestic liquid and solid wastes constitute environmental hazard in the area. About 69 per cent of the respondents are females which indicate that issue of household sanitation is gender biased, 64 per cent of respondents are married depicting large household size with multiplier effect on quantity of waste generated. Also 28.3 per cent of households pack solid waste in sacks while 24 per cent use waste bins. Also, 17.2 per cent dump and burn solid waste in front of houses while nine per cent dispose of refuse on vacant plots. The astonishing revelation is that 6.9 per cent of them throw waste into flowing streams while 12.9 per cent dump waste into drainage. Adding to these problems is lack of awareness of building code which made sanitary facilities wrongly located. Education through public enlightenment, provision of sanitary facilities and involvement of PPP among other things are advocated to remedying the present sanitation problems in Ibadan city and cities in Nigeria. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2013.v2n5p79