Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Environmental Sanitation Programme By State Environmental Protection Agencies (Sepas) In South-East Nigeria
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Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Environmental Sanitation Programme By State Environmental Protection Agencies (Sepas) In South-East Nigeria
ABSTRACT
The study sought to assess the execution of an environmental cleanliness initiative by State Environmental Protection Agencies (SEPAs) in Nigeria’s South East states. In accordance with the study’s aims, four research questions were addressed, and five null hypotheses assessed at the 0.05 level of significance were utilised to steer the investigation.
The study was designed as a descriptive survey. The study’s target population is 26,489 respondents, consisting of 429 SEPA personnel and 26,060 community leaders from South East States.
A multi-stage, proportionate random sampling technique was utilised to create a sample of two hundred and fourteen (214) SEPAs staff and eight hundred (800) community leaders, totalling one thousand and fourteen respondents for the study. A questionnaire was utilised to collect data. The study’s tool was a structured questionnaire with 52 items called ENVIENSPOQ.
The instrument was face validated by three experts: one from the Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies, another from the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a third from the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment in Owerri.
Its dependability was confirmed using the Cronbach Alpha estimation. A reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained. Mean was utilised to answer study questions one through five. The null hypotheses were tested using the t-test statistic at a significance threshold of 0.05. Copies of the instrument were distributed to responders by direct delivery technique.
The study’s findings found that environmental sanitation programmes, among other services, were underutilised. Corruption and favouritism, incompetence among SEPA workers, poor maintenance of service equipment, and limited finance were the key challenges encountered throughout the implementation of the environmental cleanliness plan.
Four of the five null hypotheses were accepted, indicating that there was no significant difference in the mean weighted scores of SEPA staff and community leaders, save for the problems experienced. Based on the findings, recommendations were made, including the following: the government should hire environmental experts with credible references, monitor SEPA staff to prevent corruption, conduct periodic inspection and evaluation of SEPA activities, adequately fund SEPAs and procure appropriate equipment, and SEPAs should initiate awareness creation programs to promote the implementation of environmental sanitation programmes. As a result, the appropriate conclusions were drawn.
Chapter One: Introduction
Background to the Study
Man, as a logical entity, has an innate sense of decency. Prior to the advent of Western education in Africa, particularly Nigeria, the populace had a basic environmental cleanliness culture of sweeping their surroundings, cleaning up local paths, and planting economic trees in their area, with controllable wastes generated.
However, the weight of waste generation or pollution was not felt during these earlier eras, but rather during the age of urban population increase and industrialisation. Thus, Nkwocha and Emeribe (2008) argued that the expansion of big centres led in increasing trash generation, which has become a threat to the residents.
As a result, these wastes needed to be managed in order to provide a favourable environment for human nutrition. The necessity to accomplish long-term promotion and protection of the environment and human health in Nigeria prompted the development of environmental sanitation.
Environmental sanitation aims to protect people and natural resources by regulating harmful activities. Agunwamba (2001) defines environmental sanitation as the control of all situations that lead to contamination and may allow the spread of diseases or infections.
Another description that discusses environmental sanitation more specifically states that it involves the disposal and control of human wastes or excreta, which are occasionally diluted with water as sewage. It also covers sludge drainage and solid waste disposal (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004a).
The FMOE (2005) defined environmental sanitation as the principles and practices that affect healthful and hygienic conditions in the environment, promote public health and welfare, improve quality of life, reduce poverty, and ensure sustainability.
According to the definitions above, environmental sanitation is the act of carrying out operations in the environment that generate basic environmental conditions advantageous to humans in order to improve people’s health and overall well-being.
In the context of this study, environmental sanitation involves efforts directed towards ensuring that the environment is safeguarded from depletion or deterioration that may result in bad hygienic practices in the environment.
It includes practices such as sweeping the streets, collecting and properly disposing of waste, protecting natural resources from overuse or degradation, demolishing unauthorised (disaster-prone) structures, planting trees and flowers, and building structures that enhance the beauty of the environment.
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