AN ASSESSMENT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN MAKURDI METROPOLIS
Keywords:
Waste Management, Policy Implementation, Environmental Cleanliness, Sanitation and Hygiene, Public HealthAbstract
Waste management remains a major urban governance and public health challenge in rapidly growing Nigerian cities, including Makurdi metropolis. This study examined the effect of waste management policy implementation on environmental health outcomes in Makurdi metropolis, focusing on environmental cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene conditions, and drainage and flooding conditions. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, using structured questionnaires administered to 400 respondents drawn from residents of Makurdi metropolis and staff of the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA). A total of 380 valid responses (95% response rate) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study was anchored on Policy Implementation Theory by Pressman and Wildavsky (1973) and Mazmanian and Sabatier (1983), which explains how gaps between policy formulation and implementation shape outcomes. Findings revealed that waste management policy implementation has a statistically significant positive effect on environmental cleanliness (R = .608, R² = .370), sanitation and hygiene conditions (R = .623, R² = .388), and drainage and flooding conditions (R = .641, R² = .411), all at p < 0.01. However, enforcement weaknesses and inconsistent public compliance limit the overall effectiveness of these improvements. The study concludes that waste management outcomes in Makurdi are moderately effective, with stronger performance in service delivery than in regulatory enforcement. It recommends strengthened enforcement by BENSESA, improved funding for waste infrastructure, and intensified community-based environmental education and compliance monitoring.
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