THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111
Volume 11, No. 2, (2013)
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/3102/11(0260)
Population Growth and Waste Management in Metropolitan Lagos
Femi O. Omololu1 & Akinmayowa S. Lawal2
1Department of Sociology University of Ibadan, Nigeria
2Centre for Global Health Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Abstract
This paper examines the influence of population growth on waste generation in Lagos metropolis, African’s most populous urban conglomeration. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study analyses the pattern of household waste disposal, collection and transportation in Lagos State. It also examines the public-private partnership strategy adopted in waste management. The findings show that population growth significantly influences waste generation and management in Lagos metropolis. As the population increased, the volume of waste generated also increased in each LGA of Lagos State. The public-private partnership strategy has been effective in managing waste, but the Lagos State Waste Management Authority oversight was adjudged as less than satisfactory. The paper concludes that intervention is needed in terms of educating the growing population of the Lagos metropolis on the best waste management practices. It highlights the need for a more efficient and effective publicprivate partnership collaboration to solve this perennial social problem.
Keywords: population growth, waste management, waste collection, publicprivate partnership, Lagos metropolis