Menace of Waste Dumping Along Median Strips and Drainage in Ogun State: a Development Communication Approach

Abstract

Waste dumping along the median strips and drainages is fast becoming a norm among residents of Ogun State. This study sought to investigate the reasons why residents dump refuse along the median strips ; to what extent are they aware of the statutory provisions against the menace as well as find how their knowledge of the health and environmental consequences of Waste Dumping along the median Strip and Drainages. Theory of planned behaviour connected to the research area was reviewed thereby clarifying the main topic and aiding the data collection. The research methodology of survey and in-depth interview were used in the study. An interview was conducted with the Permanent Secretary Cabinet Matter in the Ogun State Government. A structured designed questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected sample of 300 respondents. 150 respondents each in Idiroko Expresss Road Ota, Ogun State and the Adatan/Lafenwa Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The result of the study revealed that Government, believes that the practice of the people is unjustifiable, describing it as an act of total indiscipline. Although residents of Ogun State are aware of the wrongness of dumping waste along the median strips and drainages, results from the findings of the survey revealed that 54% of the respondents attributed illicit waste dumping act to the long distance of waste containers, 56.3% related their actions to non-availability of waste dump site. The study further shows that 80.2% of the sampled population expressed knowledge of the existence of laws against dumping of waste along median strips and drainages. The study therefore concluded that on the need for an urgent shift from Mongolic to Dialogic communication in curbing the deepening behavioural pattern of dumping waste along the median strips and drainages by residents of Ogun State.