Environmental Sanitation Practices in Sub-Sahara African Urban Centers: The Experience from Ondo, Nigeria

This study examined environmental sanitation practices in Ondo, Nigeria. Data were collected having stratified the study area into the high, medium and low densities. Three political wards were randomly selected from each zone. There are 2222 buildings in the selected wards with 879 in the high; 725 in the medium and 618 in the low. Systematic sampling was used to select 10% of the buildings. A total of 222 copies of questionnaires were administered on household headsout of which 187 copies were retrieved and analyzed.Findings showed that majority (66.8%) of respondents were owners of the buildings while 33.2% were tenants. Finding revealed that 19.6% of waste storage facilities in the study area were covered refuse bins while plastic containers accounted for 9.2%. Results of the findings showed that 21.67% of waste storage facilities in the low density area were refuse bins. Findings showed that 22.9%, 21.2% and 33.3% of residents in the high, medium and low densities, respectively stored/disposed waste in less than 5 days. The predominant method of waste disposal in the high and medium density was burning, while the use of disposal site was prevalent in the low density. The study concluded on the adoption of revitalization strategy that involves community participation. This hinges on the understanding that community participation in sanitation practices is one of the most important and essential means for solving the sanitation problems at the present time.

Keywords: Solid waste; Sanitation; Urban center, Ondo Nigeria.