Influence of Local Governance on Residents’ Environmental Sanitation Behavior in Nigeria: the Ile-Ife Experience

Abstract

This paper examined the influence of local governance on residents’ environmental sanitation behavior in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. This was with a view to suggesting policy response in furtherance of a sustainable environmental behavior among residents in the city and others with similar background. Four residential zones were identified in the study area. A total of 2,881 buildings were identified comprising 739, 154, 357 and 431 respectively in the low income, middle income, high income and post crisis residential area. One out of every 10th residential building was sampled in each residential area. A total of 288 residents were selected for survey using systematically sampling technique. The study revealed that residents’ socio-economic characteristics varied significantly across residential areas. The study also found that there is low level of access to environmental sanitation facilities/services in the low income, middle income and post crisis residential areas. The study established that a relationship exist between residents’ environmental sanitation behavior and their place of residence. The study also established a variation in the level of agreement of the functions of the mandated monthly environmental sanitation exercise. In general, the maintenance of dumpsites within the city by government was not satisfactory to the residents across the four identified residential areas. The study recommended a synergy of strategies among environmentally-concerned institutions in the study area in provision of facilities/services, environmental awareness and enforcement of sanitation legislations in the study area.