Residents' Perception of Monthly Environmental

International Journal of Advancements in Research & Technology, Volume 8, Issue 2, February-2019 ISSN 2278-7763 1

RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION IN TARAUNI LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KANO STATE Ado Abdu¹, Ado Mukhtar Bichi¹, Yahaya Ado Umar² and Usman Saeed Ado¹ ¹ Department of Geography, ² Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano, Nigeria

Address of the corresponding author: Email:[email protected] GSM:08065405069

Abstract The paper examines residents’ perception of monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Tarauni Local Government, usually conducted on the last Saturday of every month in Kano State. Stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting the study wards from the Local Government Area and convenient sampling technique was employed to select 160 respondents (heads of households). Structured questionnaire was used for data collection and descriptive statistical techniques were used for the data analysis. The result shows that the respondents age ranges from 18 to 60 and above years; 67(42%) are aged 18 to 29 years, 47(29%) aged between 30 and 39 years, and 14(5%) are aged 60 years and above. The findings also show that 115 (72%) of the respondents are males while 45 (28%) are females. The data analysis shows that majority 88 (55%) had tertiary level of education, while only 12 (8%) had non-formal education. Furthermore 31(20%) of the respondents are living in compound houses,IJOART 29(18%) in bungalows, 74(46%) in single-family houses, and 26 (16%) in flats. n Data analysis shows that majority 88(55%) of the respondents strongly agree that the sanitation makes the environment clean. In addition, 87(54%) strongly agree that the monthly sanitation exercise reduces the prevalence of mosquitoes in the area and 96(60%) strongly agree that the monthly sanitation reduces illness in their homes. Equally, 73(45%) strongly agree that the monthly sanitation helps in promoting collective community work and 85(53%) strongly agree that it improves easy flow of drainages. The results further show that 106(66%) of the respondents perceived the monthly environmental sanitation as satisfactory and 33(34%) perceived the sanitation as worrisome/Unsatisfactory. The paper therefore recommends that policy makers should ensure adequate inspection and enlightenment programme on the monthly environmental sanitation exercise to improve the perception of urban residents of exercise in the study area.

Keywords: Residents, perception, residential areas, environment, sanitation, Kano

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Environmental sanitation has been a major source of concern to many urban centres of developing counties that are experiencing increasing rate of pollution. Most of these urban centres also suffer from inefficient management of the environment and poor environmental planning. A clean environment is an important component of biodiversity that provides human beings with basic needs necessary for survival. This is because the environment consists of total set of influences or circumstances that surround and affect an individual or community, which include physical or natural condition and socioeconomic features (Keller, 1972). Maigari (2002) argued that an environment consists of three basic components, including physical environment, biological and the social environments. Thus, an environment has to be safeguarded to protect the health of its residents. It is evidently clear that a strong and healthy workforce build up a strong and healthy nation, therefore the health condition of any nation determines the progress it makes. Moreover, an environment that is populated with unhealthy people can be named as an unhealthy nation, which leads to low productivity and backwardness (Blackburn, et al., 2004; Woodward, et al., 2005). On the other hand, a clean environment produces a nation of healthy people who are productive and that can bring speedy development. Environmental sanitation has presented a serious challenge to many developing countries, especially in urban centres of countries like Nigeria. The urban centresIJOART have been recording rapid population growth and there has not been a corresponding increase in the provision of critical urban infrastructure and services such as water supply, sewage and waste collection and disposal facilities that are necessary for enhancing good and sustainable environmental sanitation practices. The Government in Nigeria has recognized that a pleasant environment that is free from all environmental hazards and that promotes healthy living is a fundamental right of all Nigerians. This is coupled with the appreciation of the fact that the problems of poor environmental sanitation can endanger higher productivity and limits national consciousness on the need to have a judicious and sustainable management of the Nigeria environment. To achieve this, the resort has notably been to engage in environmental sanitation exercise, its effectiveness is based on legislation and monitoring compliance and its sustainability is a function of various changes in policy formulation (Babalola, 2000). On the other hand, sanitation in cities tends to be directed to the prevention or control of epidemics; for a city a single defect may endanger the health of thousands of people. In modern cities, serious epidemics such as cholera and typhoid fever, borne by contaminated drinking water, are things of the past. On the other

hand, there are still centres of population where water-borne epidemics occur, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has been concerned with these problems. Furthermore, poor environmental sanitation in different locations is attributed to a number of factors including lack of awareness, improper planning, poor funding and poor implementation of sanitation programmes by different agencies and the absence of clear-cut National Policy on sanitation (FMWR, 2004).

Environmental sanitation is one of the activities that ensure clean and safe environment for urban and rural residents. It is the principle and practice of effecting healthy and hygienic conditions in the environment to promote public health and welfare, improve quality of life, and ensure a sustainable environment (Alabi, 2010; Nabegu, 2010, Abdu, et al., 2017). Improvement of the quality of environment through effective sanitation is important for the quality of life and wellbeing of urban residents in Nigeria. Kano is one of the urban centres in the country that needs effective environmental sanitation because an estimated 325,319 Kg of wastes are generated on daily basis by residential areas in the metropolis (Maigari, 2014).

Based on the above, the Kano State government declared the last Saturday of every month as Environmental Sanitation Day in 2011and the exercise starts from 6:00am to 10:00am. It further made it compulsory for everybody to remain at home and clean his/her residence and surroundings. TheIJOART policy is being monitored and enforced by the officials of the Ministry of Environment and defaulters are usually prosecuted and fined by a Mobile Court constituted for that purposes. However, since the declaration of the Environmental Sanitation exercise, there has been little or no appreciable result on the sanitation situation in the metropolis. Consequently, many questions were raised on why the policy has not achieved the desired impact. There have been different views expressed by urban residents speculating reasons for this, some of the views point out the approach adopted by the government as compelling and therefore restricting peoples’ movement while others view it from the negative perception of the policy by urban residents. This paper therefore seeks to examine residents’ perception of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in selected residential areas of Tarauni Local Government, Kano state.

2. METHODOLOGY

The paper adopted stratified sampling technique to select the study area out of the eight metropolitan local councils in the state. The Local Government area was divided into four strata: Northwest, Northeast, Central and the Southern part of the study area. From each of

the four strata, convenient sampling technique was employed to select one ward; Gyadi- Gyadi, Kundila, Daurawa, and Karkasara respectively. From the selected wards 160 respondents (head of households) were selected for the study. Therefore a total 160 copies of semi-structured questionnaire were administered to the respondents proportionately. The questionnaire schedule has questions on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, the housing characteristics and questions on residents’ perception of the monthly environmental sanitation. The data was collected with the help of three well trained research assistants. Prior to the data collection, reconnaissance survey was conducted that help in developing rapport with the traditional rulers and elders of the wards and for the purpose of getting more acquainted with the study areas. The data was coded and analysed using descriptive statistics with the help of Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 20.

2.1 Description of the Study Area

Tarauni Local Government is located within Kano Metropolis, created from the old Kano Municipal Council. It is located on latitude 120 3' north and longitude 8031'eastwith a total land area of 26 km2 (figure 1). It shares boundary with Kumbotso Local Government to the southeast, Nassarawa Local Government Area to the north and Municipal Local Government to the west. It hasIJOART a population of about 221, 844 people according to 2006 population census (NPC, 2009). The study area has predominantly nucleated type of settlements and the residential areas are consisting of both planned and unplanned neighbourhoods with moderate density of population. The climate is the tropical wet and dry type with minimum temperatures of 200C and a maximum of 400C. The vegetation is characterized by moderately tall grasses and scattered trees that are deciduous in nature, shading their leaves during the dry season to prevent excessive water loss through transpiration. The soil of the area is a product of the inter-play between the geologic, climatic and geomorphologic factors. Based on this, three different soil types can be identified within the local government area namely; latosols, hydrophic and regosols soil.

Figure 1: Map of KanoIJOART State Showing Tarauni Local Government

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data was analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics especially the socio- demographic characteristic, the housing characteristics and the residents’ perception of the monthly environmental sanitation.

3.1 Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristic of the Respondents

The data analysis has shown the results of responses on the socio-demographic characteristic of the respondent including age, sex, educational qualification, marital status, occupation, monthly income, and household size on Table 1. It reveals that 67 (42%) of the respondents are aged between 18 and 29 years, 47 (29%) aged between 30 and 39 years, 24 (15%) between 40 and 49years, 14 (9%) aged between 50 and 59 years, while 14 (5%) aged 60 and above. This shows that majority of the population fall within 18 and 29 years of age. Concerning the sex of the respondents, the table shows that male were dominant among the

respondents 115 (72%). Furthermore, the finding reveals that more than half of the respondents 88 (55%) are having tertiary level of education while only 9(6%) had primary level of education. On the marital status, 56 (35%) of the respondents are married, 92 (58%) are single, 8 (2%) are divorcees, while 8 (5%) of the respondents are widowed. The table further shows that 28 (18%) of the respondents are private sector employees, 30 (19%) are civil servants, 53(33%) are unemployed; while about 49 (30%) are into various businesses.

On the average monthly income of the respondents, the finding shows that 47 (29%) of the respondents had an average monthly income of less than N15, 000, and 36 (23%) had N 15,000-N45, 000, 37(23%) had N 45, 000-N60, 000, while 40 (25%) had above N60, 000 average monthly income. In terms of the households size, the finding shows that 57 (36%) of the respondents had households size between 1-4 people, 65 (41%) had between 5-9 people, and 24 (15%) had10 to 14 people, while 14 (9%) had between 15 and above people. Concerning the number of households within a house, the finding reveals that 46 (29%) of the respondents had only 1 household in their compound, 19 (12%) had 2 households, 28 (18%) had 3 households, while 67 (42%) had 4 and above households.

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Table 1: Socio-Economic and Demographic Characteristic of the Respondents

Variables Frequency Percentage (%) Age- Group

18-29 67 42 30-39 47 29 40-49 24 15 50-59 14 9 60 and above 8 5 TOTAL 160 100 Sex

Male 115 72 Female 45 28 TOTAL 160 100 Education Level

Primary level 9 6 Secondary level 51 31 Tertiary level 88 55 Non formal 12 8 TOTAL 160 100 Marital Status

Married 56 35 Single 92 58 Divorced 8 2 Widowed 8 5 TOTAL IJOART160 100 Occupation Qualification

Private sector employee 28 18 Civil servant 30 19 Unemployed 53 33 Business man 49 30 TOTAL 160 100 Monthly Income

Less than N 15,000 47 29 N15,000- N 45,000 36 23 N 45,000- N N60,000 37 23 Above N 60,000 40 25 TOTAL 160 100 Household Size

1-4 57 36 5-9 65 40 6-14 24 15 15 and above 14 9 TOTAL 160 100 Number of Household

1 46 29 2 19 12 3 28 18 4 and above 67 41 TOTAL 160 100 Source: Field Work, 2016

3.2: Housing Characteristics of the Respondents The housing characteristics of the respondents investigated include type of houses and number of rooms in the neighbourhoods studied. The table reveals that 31 (20%) of the respondents live in compound houses, 29 (18%) in bungalow type houses, 74 (46%) in single-family housing units, and 26 (16%) in flats. This indicates that single-family housing units are the dominant housing type used by the respondents. Concerning the number of rooms available in the residences the findings reveal that majority of the respondents 113(70%) have 4 and above bedrooms while only 6 (4%) have 1 bedroom (table 2).

Table 2: Housing Characteristics of the Respondents Characteristics Frequency Percentage (%) Type of House Compound houses 31 19 Bungalows 29 18 Single family houses 74 46 Flat houses 26 16 Total 160 100 Number of Rooms 1 IJOART6 4 2 13 8 3 28 18 4 and above 113 71 Total 160 100 Source: Field Work, 2016

3.3: Perception on Monthly Environmental Sanitation This section deals with how the respondents perceived the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the study area. In order to determine the households’ perception of the government introduced environmental sanitation exercise, respondents were asked whether monthly sanitation change the way they clean their environment. The data analysis has shown that 24 (15%) of the respondents were of the view that the monthly sanitation exercise does not change the way they clean their environment, while 136 (85%) of them indicated that it changes the way they clean their environment (Table 3). The finding therefore shows that the decision by government to introduce the monthly environmental sanitation exercise as a state

policy has positively changed the people’s attitude towards environmental hygiene and sanitation in the study area. Table 3: Effect of Monthly Sanitation on Environmental Cleanliness Does Sanitation Change the Way you Clean Frequency Percentage the Environment? Yes 136 85 No 24 15 Total 160 100

Source: Field Work, 2016

3.4: Change in Approach to environmental sanitation The respondents were further asked how often they clean their environment as a result of the introduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Table 4 shows the way responses of the households; about 96 (60%) of respondents clean their environment on daily basis, 47 (29%) does the cleaning on weekly basis, while 17 (11%) of the respondents clean the environment every fortnight. Table 4: Change in Approach to environmental sanitation In what Way? Frequency Percentage Daily cleaning IJOART96 60 Weekly cleaning 47 29 Cleaning Fortnightly 17 11 Total 160 100

Source: Field Work, 2016 3.5: Level of Perception of Residents toward Monthly Environmental Sanitation Furthermore, when the views of the respondents were sought on whether the monthly sanitation helps the environment to remain clean, different views were expressed; 8 (5%) of the respondents strongly disagree, 7 (4%) disagree, 14 (9%) are not sure, 43 (27%) agree, while 88 (55%) of the respondents strongly agree. This finding indicates that majority of the respondents agreed that the monthly sanitation makes the environment to remain clean. Table 5 also shows that 19 (12%) of the respondents strongly disagree that the monthly sanitation reduced mosquitoes in the area, 4 (3%) disagree, 6 (4%) are not sure, 44 (28%) agree, and 87 (54%) strongly agree. This also suggests that majority of the respondents are of the view that

monthly sanitation exercise reduced mosquitoes in the environment thereby reducing the chances of malaria incidences in the neighbourhoods. Furthermore, the research findings equally show that the monthly sanitation exercise reduces the incidences of sickness generally among the respondents. This was confirmed when the respondents variously agreed (88%) that as far as their perception is concerned there was significant drop in cases of sickness in their homes and neighbourhoods as a result of the environmental sanitation exercise (table 5). With regards to whether the monthly sanitation helps in promoting community collective work with a view to promote environmental sanitation, the findings show that 18 (11%) of the respondents strongly disagree, 11 (7%) disagree, 15 (9%) are not sure, 45 (27%) agree, and 73 (45%) strongly agree. The table further shows that 14 (9%) of the respondents strongly disagree that the monthly sanitation improves easy flow of water in their drainages, 1(1%) disagree, 5 (3%) are not sure, 55 (34%) agree and 85 (53%) strongly agree. Table 5: Level of Perception of Residents toward Monthly Environmental Sanitation

Strongly Not Strongly Disagree Agree Total Disagree sure Agree Level of Perception Sanitation help our Environment to 8(5) 7(4) 14(9) 43(27) 88(55) 160(100) Remains Clean Monthly Sanitation Reduced 19(12) 4(3) 6(4) 44(28) 87(54) 160(100) Mosquitoes Does Monthly Sanitation Reduced 9(6) 5(3) 5(3) 45(28) 96(60) 160(100) Illness IJOART Sanitation Results in Collective work 18(11) 11(7) 15(9) 45(27) 73(45) 160(100) Sanitation Improves in Easy Flow of 14(9) 1(1) 5(3) 55(34) 85(53) 160(100) Water in Drainages Source: Field Work, 2016 3.6: Overall Perception of residents toward Monthly Environmental Sanitation Table 6 shows the overall perception of the residents toward the monthly sanitation exercise. The results show that 106 (66%) of the respondents perceived the monthly environmental sanitation as satisfactory while 33 (34%) perceived the monthly environmental sanitation worrisome/Unsatisfactory. This shows that more than half of the respondents perceived monthly sanitation as a successful and satisfactory exercise.

Table 6: Respondent’s General Perception of Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise Level of Perception Frequency Percentage Satisfactory 106 66 Worrisome 33 34 Total 160 100

Source: Field Work, 2016

4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

This research was carried out with the aim of determining the residents’ perception on monthly environmental sanitation exercise carried out every last Saturday of the month throughout the metropolis including Tarauni Local Government area. A total of One Hundred and Sixty household heads were sampled as respondents to a Questionnaire survey designed to explore peoples’ perception of the sanitation exercise. The Local Government Area was selected using stratified sampling technique out of the eight metropolitan councils in the state. The study area was further divided into four strata and the respondents were drawn from these strata. The findings revealed that the respondents perceived monthly environmental satiation exercise as having helped their environment to remain clean, makes it easy for the flow of waste waterIJOART in the drainages, and reduces the incidences of mosquitoes and general illness among the residents. Furthermore, the respondents viewed their overall perception of monthly sanitation as a successful and satisfactory exercise not worrisome. The implication of the research finding is that the policy is a welcome development to majority of the households’ residing in the study area. This is a positive response to the government initiative and effort towards improving the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Kano metropolis as a whole should consider residents ‘perceptions in order to achieve more successes in the exercise.

5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings of the study, the paper proffers the following recommendations:

1. There should be wider public awareness campaign on the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the whole of Kano metropolis to reduce the incidence of violation.

2. The government should come up with legislations to control street hawking and random refuse disposal in the metropolis and the study area in particular.

3. There should be proper collection, disposal and maintenance of all the waste generated by the households during the exercise in the study area. This could be by way of strengthening waste to wealth programme’ earlier introduced by the state government.

4. There should be adequate provision of waste collection and sanitation facilities by the relevant government departments and agencies concerned with environmental sanitation such as the Ministry of Environment and REMASAB in order to encourage community participation during the monthly exercise.

6. Efforts should be made to sensitize members of the public on the importance and benefits of the sanitation exercise so that people’s perception would be improved and this will lead to greater community support and participation.

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