Problems and Prospects of Waste Management in Nigeria

Waste management has over the years remained a subject of public discourse, as there is clear disparity between the level at which Nigerians are generating waste and the availability of modern equipment for disposing of  waste without further causing harm to members of the public.

It is imperative that environment be kept green and clean for the good health and well-being of citizens.

Therefore, provision of  sustainable environment for Nigerian is of utmost important. To realize this, the federal government commitment in the management  of both solid and liquid  waste, because generate waste on daily basis through our daily living, managing the environment there is need for proper way of disposing these wastes without causing danger to Nigerians’ health.

This is very fundamental in addressing the problem of waste management in Nigeria. For me I think the challenge of poor and improper management of waste in Nigeria is as result of inadequate policy making, sometimes when these policies are formulated, they subsequently lack the necessary legislation to follow it through and even when efforts are made, the policies are poorly implemented.

Besides Nigerians should be sensitized on the need to keep our environment clean. There should be a departure from public awareness that lacks the necessary intensity to command change of attitude.

Nigerians should understand the consequence of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and government in the other hand should have a way of enforcing environmental laws on the citizens to ensure compliance.

Lack of money, lack of modern equipment and techniques, lack of resources – manpower and materials were most of those factors militating against the operation of the authorities assigned the job of disposing wastes  in our environment.

That is why a proactive measure be taken to ensure that the mandate of  the environment authorities in Nigeria is realized.

One of such measures however, could be the sanitation, environment cleaning exercise, which of course, it will not be the proactive way nevertheless if such sanitation approach should be anything to go by,  then the approach must be pragmatic, and it’s success must lies continuous effectiveness of the approach in maintaning a clean  and  hugienic environment for healthy Nigerian citizens.

It should be a vigorous exercise against environmental diseases and for sustainable environment for human existence, because every Nigerian is assured of Clean environment. Let Nigerian government set standards for proper waste management in this country, time is of essence.

Suggestions

Nigerian nation is reputed to be the largest black country in the world, of course, this is a prove that Nigeria has a lot of responsibilities including ensuring adequate, effective and efficient waste management to help improve on the living standards of Nigerians because it is a nation made up of hundreds of thousands of cities, and therefore, must keep these habitable for the citizens.

There should be a departure from the previous approaches and procedures of waste disposal in Nigeria, as well as sensitization and awareness program in order to induce Nigerians and redirect the attitude of disposing waste indiscrinately within Nigerian cities particularly, along open layout, major roads /streets.

Some of the streets in Nigerian cities,  where heaps of waste has made them impassable should be cleared with immediate effect by the relevant authorities so as to give access to these roads and to equally make life worthwhile for persons living within and around these cities.

Because I am afraid that citizens living within these places where waste are heaped may likely be infected with diseases, and these people are vulnerable to any kind of diseases. So I am appealing to the Nigerian authority to save Nigerians from cholera and any of such diseases.

If government alone can resolve the challenge of waste management in Nigeria is one question that begs for an answer.

Be that as it may, I am of the opinion that there are some private waste management organizations in Nigeria, they should be commissioned to assist in the fight of keeping Nigeria clean and safe.

Authority should engage these professionals in waste management, by so doing the stesses of collecting waste by government assigned agencies will be reduced, as some of the spread diseases, occasioned by heaps of waste within residential areas will be reduced too.

Some of the felt in the collection and disposition of waste  has been due the limited  strength and manpower within the system, and collaborating with these private organizations, there is likely going to be improvement in collection and disposition of  waste in our cities.

Read More: 5 Benefits of Waste Recycling to the Economy

Non Governmental Organization (NGO) should also come to assist in the struggle to save our cities from decadence occasioned by dumping of refuse indiscriminately in major cities across the nation, in some areas the heaps of waste Will be there for like  a week or two, worst till,  when it rains the overflown bin will disperse waste which in turn be by flood into drainages, while some will be littered alone the streets.

All of these happened because there was  dely in disposing the waste so perhaps,  some non governmental organizations come in to assist Nigeria may record some level of success in the area of waste management.

Another challenge which I am very optimistic that the problem could be surmounted if only there is commitment on the part of government is the lack of modern equipment in carrying out the job of waste management.

My suggestion is that Nigerian government make the necessary modern logistics available for waste management in Nigeria. This efforts on the part of government will demonstrate the government readiness to partner with all in ensuring that waste management in Nigeria meets the modern acceptable waste management standard.

The National Assembly as a matter of important should make a law or resolution that will empower and invite private waste management professionals come in and do business in the waste management sector, there should be proper regulatory framework that defines and regulate the activities of stakeholders in this sector. The federal government should reiterated its commitment in enforcing environmental and sanitation laws.

Read more : How to Turn Waste to Wealth in Nigeria

In a bit to curb the unwholesome practice of lettering the streets, government should introduce a new program where your bins in your compound are emptied at when due and you make certain payment to government every month. By this method, government will be able to generate revenue, while the act of littering with refuse will be drastically reduced

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