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© Kamla-Raj 2004 J. Hum. Ecol., 15(4): 265-275 (2004)
Management of Environmental Pollution in Ibadan, An African City: The Challenges of Health Hazard Facing Government and The People
Ishaq Isola Omoleke
Department of Public Administrations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria E-mail: omoleke2003@yahoo.com
KEYWORDS Environment. Pollution. Solid Waste. Health Hazards. Environmental Law
Abstract This paper examined management of environmental pollution in Ibadan, the largest City in West Africa. Environmental pollution which includes gaseous, liquid and solid wastes have become a perennial problem facing various governments and administrations in Nigeria. It has almost defied solutions proffered by the Governments, (Military and Civilian). It is against this background that the paper is set to look into liquid, solid and gaseous waste deposits and collection in Ibadan, an African city with a population of over 2 million going by 1991 census. (Source: National Population Commission, Final Result of 1991 Population Census Ibadan). Both primary and secondary methods of data collection were utilized for this study. The primary data were sourced through interview of managers of waste disposal while secondary data were gathered from books, magazines, journals and official reports. The findings of this study revealed that despite the efforts of previous and present administrations, piles of decaying garbage which are substantially domestic in nature dominate strategic locations in the city and the government propaganda has little impact on the environmental pollution in the city and its suburbs thereby constituting health hazards such as infections, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and cholera to mention a few. It is therefore suggested that a more draconian law be enacted to deal decisively with people who indiscriminately dump refuse in the streams and in illegal refuse dumping locations. The public environmental awareness and campaigns at the grassroots are needed to be intensified, most especially in the traditional core of the city. Industrial pollution should also be checked through legal recourse. Any factory that fails to comply with environmental law should be closed dawn summarily.
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