The wastewater management practice in Nigeria- inadequacies and the way forwards

Abstract

This paper assesses the current handling of wastewater including public reaction to the existing practices and the introducing various alternative approaches that are applicable. The survey culminates in developing a national policy to guide management of Wastewater and general sanitation across the country. This paper is prepared based on the observations and feedbacks gotten from the survey carried out on the assessment of the Wastewater Management practices in Nigeria. It assesses Wastewater management practices in Lagos and Kano States of Nigeria. The study is categorized mainly into two sections: data collection and facilities assessment. The latter is based on site visitation and collection of Wastewater effluent parameters using a survey template while the former collected data and information from residents, WASH experts through the administration of (general and professional) questionnaires as well as oral interviews. Overall results indicate that the conventional Wastewater management practice in Nigeria is inefficient. The processes and facilities are poorly monitored and maintained. A need for improved fragmented institutional responsibilities is now than later. Therefore, a strong and effective governance is required with regulation backed up by financing, monitoring, control, and enforcement. Feedback gotten from residents, professionals and stakeholders showed that there are fundamental sanitation issues vis-à-vis the role of masses and in particular, that of the government towards the actualization of a healthy ecosystem. The result of the assessment and proposed strategies could serve as a guide to the effective development and management of Wastewater in Nigeria.