Influence of extension education on land pollution reduction in Abeokuta Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study attempted to investigate the influence of the level of awareness and use of environmental education information obtained from public extension education program on environmental sanitation and wastes disposal practices by residents of Abeokuta South Local Government Area. A total of 450 residents were interviewed while senior environmental health officials of Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Abeokuta South LG Council responded to a questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentages, analysis of variance and simple linear regression. Results indicated that majority of residents disposed wastes improperly, making the town a bit dirty. The level of awareness and use of environmental education information obtained through extension education is low. However, the level of awareness ad use of information obtained through extension education methods influenced resident's environmental sanitation and waste disposal practices. Radio and TV were the commonest sources of environmental education information. Residents' level of income and years of formal education acquired had significant relationship with their waste disposal and environmental sanitation practices. Wastes are disposed improperly because of inability to afford out-door refuse drums (bins), fees charged by private environmental sanitation agencies and far location of refuse disposal houses. Recommendations included intensification of public extension education programs on environmental sanitation, stricter of enforcement of environmental sanitation laws, building of more refuse disposal houses and provision of out-door refuse bins (placed in strategic places) by the government. [JEXT Vol.1(1) 2000: 17-27]