|
Refuse disposal practices
in three major motor parks in Ibadan municipality, Nigeria
S. Ibekwe Titus1,2*, E. Dongo Andrew 2
and K. C. Sridhar Mynepalli3
1Department
of Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
2Department
of Surgery, University of Abuja, Nigeria.
3Department
of Surgery, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua,
Nigeria.
4Division
of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health,
College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. Email:
ibekwets@yahoo.com. Tel: +234 8033 4843 80.
Accepted
18 May, 2010 |
|
Transportation and human mobility have become a part of
development in many developing countries. In Nigerian
cities, this vital activity has also led to problems
associated with large quantities of waste generation and
became a management issue for Local and State Governments.
This work was carried out at three major motor parks, viz.
Akinyele, Iwo Road, and New Garage, in Ibadan, the capital
of Oyo State in South-western Nigeria. To assess the nature
of wastes generated and the current disposal practices in
the selected motor parks. Data was collected through key
informant interviews (KII); transect walk and personal
observations, focus group discussions (FGD) and available
reports and publications. The findings revealed a generally
poor environmental hygiene, as the waste is disposed on to
open dumps, streams or open burning. These practices
apparently are unhygienic and to mitigate such public health
issues, a proper organizational structure and supervision by
a designated officer is found to be effective in keeping the
motor parks safe and hygienic in the interest of public
health. Most of the respondents, though aware of such
problems could not do much due to lack of funds, tools and
support from the government. The waste problems in the motor
parks are neglected by the various tiers of government and
there is need for greater attention as it is a public health
concern in Nigerian cities.
Key
words:
Waste, disposal, motor parks. |
