1.1 Background of the Study
There were efforts, some of them commendable made at various times, in Enugu to improve the environmental and atmospheric conditions of the different part of the capital city. These have include the clearing of the city of large amounts of refuse site and dumps indiscriminately located within living abodes, which blocked several access routes.
This has opened up some of the area, provided access to part of the city litter to block and also more open spaces for recreation. All this efforts failed the test of time by not sustaining the search for a clean city. Therefore, Afuabi in his write up in the National Concord described these “attempts as mainly cosmetic and that the characteristic of under-development seemed to be the prevalence of urban slum and rural squalor”
To deal with the situation the 1976 local government reform assigned specifically the functions of maintaining and promoting environmental health to the local councils. This was a view to finding a means of solving the problem of environmental decay within the urban center in particular. In spite of this provision, refuse disposal within the urban center of Enugu remained a problem. Enugu Local Government lacked the required assigned functions. Admolekum, put in vividly this. “This list of Local Government Functions could be impressive whilst the financial and human resources necessary for effective performance are grossly inadequate”. There was continuous decline in the sanitary condition of the capital city.
In 1984, the government of Enugu State before division established the task force on Works, Housing, vehicle and Environmental Sanitation.
This was an ad-hoc body, which was military in character and operation and therefore, depended on the application of task force to achieve its objective. The taskforce instituted penalties such as times paid on whips. Compliance with sanitation regulation was with “immediate effect,” hence, the unconditional acceptance by the people to pay the required levies what sustained the operations of the taskforce. Under the situation of fear and force compliance with sanitation regulation, the solution to the problem of decay and squalor, particularly as it related to refuse disposal within Enugu was a temporary basis and might not be sustained nor might it stand the test of the time, in the light of this fact as indicated by Obasi in his contribution. The Enugu State Government later decided to establish a more permanent organ whose mandate would span not only the immediate challenge of ensuring a clean environment but also the long term task of inculcating in the public a heightened and enduring sense of sanitary consciousness.
The efforts to achieve an effective waste disposal management in Enugu Urban notwithstanding, the issue of refuse disposal in Enugu Urban continued to pose enormous problems. The researcher therefore decided to carryout a study in order to find out why these problems have persisted in spite of the efforts and strategies that have been employed.
The management of solid waste particularly has been facing a great problem. There has been the general lack of equipment and exodus of well-trained personnel required for the job. Another problem has been the demolition of built up refuse deposits. There was also lack of refuse disposal vehicle such as closed refuse trucks and open tippers. The heavy equipment such as Bulldozer and pail-loaders required for the maintenance of the final disposal site were also lacking. However, where they exist, many of them are either old or broken down, moreover, the vehicles and heavy equipment that are in order have often been diverted to un-official uses by some field official.
There was also the issue of refuse workers not being properly deployed while the payment of their salaries were most often delayed even for months.
Most importantly, there has been lack of adequate finance, which affected all the facets of the operation of Enugu State waste management Authority in Enugu. Onwumelu put this fact in perspective when he said, “the task of maintaining an Environment free of filth cannot be achieved unless there was fund”.
There is also the need for the basic infrastrutural support and equipment or tools.
The study is centered on the operation of the Enugu Enugu State waste management Authority. Specifically, the study deals with urban waste disposal in Enugu Urban. It is not concerned with the collection of hazardous or toxic waste, which may also be generated within an urban center given the multiple occupations of Enugu for both residential and commercial/industries purposes.
Also the concern of the study is to investigate the problem of Enugu urban waste disposal and management by Enugu State waste management Authority.
1.3 Research Questions
This research work will pose an answer the following questions:
1.4 Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to find out whether these indiscriminate heaps of refuse that litter our streets arose out of the lack of the employment of the compete personnel who are experts in the handling of refuse by eswama, or whether it was due to lack of enough machines to cart away these wastes, or again, whether it is as a result of the work’s grievances or whether it is due to government reluctance and misconception of the primary objective for setting up ESWAMA.
To identify the causes of ESWAMA under capacity out-put and to correct the anomalies that prevented ESWAMA from standing up to the challenges of waste disposal management in Enugu State.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The study is primarily undertaken with the aim of providing some level of information to government, urban development and ESWAMA, which serves as a case study. This study will assist the management of the ESWAMA in making comprehensive review of its waste management policy and strategies.
It is important as a basis for further research on the management of urban waste disposal on how effective is the disposal operation of ESWAMA, as well as how adequate are the equipment at this disposal of ESWAMA for its operation in Enugu and the required funds for the operation of ESWAMA provided.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research study of refuse disposal management is centered on ESWAMA in Enugu State. Its activities in various parts of the state would be given a proper scrutiny and put in the proper perspective.
1.8 Limitation of the Study
This research work was faced with a lot of constraints that made the research to skip certain vital and relevant areas.
These constraints include:
Due to the scarcity of related literatures, it was not very easy for the researcher to lay hand on enough information that is relevant to this study.
1.9 Definition of Terms
Proper disposal of waste: provision made for collection of these waste at a regular interval.
Slum: Street of dirty
Waste: Material or substance that is unwanted because the good part of them has been removed.
Refuse: Waste material that has been thrown away.
1.10 Organization of the Study
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the subject matter. Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study