Assessment of The Effectiveness of The Yobe State Environmental Protection Agency in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Damaturu Metropolis

Abstract

The Yobe State Environmental Protection Agency (YOSEPA) is the government establishment responsible for municipal solid waste management in Damaturu metropolis; it was established by edict No. 3 of 1994. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Random sampling technique was used to select six (6) geo-political wards out of the eleven geo-political wards in the study area. The sample size for the study was 378 drawn from the research advisors table of sample size. The study used questionnaire; and adopted the accidental method in the distribution of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Kruskal Wallis test. The Kruskal-Wallis (H) test findings revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in perception amongst the public with respect to the role of YOSEPA in Municipal Solid Waste Management in Damaturu metropolis. YOSEPA ‟s administration and organisation of Municipal solid waste activities was rated lowest by respondents, getting a mean score of 505.70. 66.4%of respondents dispose their solid wastes inside bins. Majority of respondents (73%) had waste dumps in their areas, most of these dumps are situated by the roadside and they smell badly, obstruct traffic, block drainages and harbour insects. The study concluded that majority of respondents had waste dumps in their areas, most of these dumps are situated by the roadside and they smell badly, obstruct traffic, block drainages and harbour insects. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the policy of dumping wastes by the road side for it to be evacuated should be stopped.