ABSTRACT
Municipal Solid Waste is one of the consequences of development, related industrialization and population growth. Phenomenal increase in this waste, both in volume and variety, has continued to pose serious challenges of management to the authorities, with negative environmental impacts and significant risks to public health. Several factors, including political exigencies, competing and inadequate budgetary allocations and exponential increase in population have continued to hinder efforts at proper waste management in major cities of Africa and other developing countries, including Abuja, Nigeria. In spite of the planned and structured nature of most parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, concerted efforts at ensuring proper solid waste management continue to defy a single effective pattern for all areas of the city. This cross-sectional descriptive community-based study was conducted in two districts of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). The districts were selected through a multistage sampling technique to ensure engagement of an urban district (Wuse) and a slum district (Nyanya). Bias in the selection of Heads of households as respondents was minimized using simple random sampling technique by balloting. A representative sample size was determined, taking into cognizance the 2006 census figures of the two districts, as well as previous studies on problems of solid waste management in the FCT. Structured Interviewer Administered Questionnaires and In-Depth Interview Guises were used as data collection tools for the study. Descriptive analysis of data was done using the SPSS software, version 20.0, while qualitative data was content analyzed, summarizing it into key thematic areas, based on the objectives of the study. Results of the study highlights varying levels of knowledge and attitudes of residents and waste managers in the two districts, with higher knowledge, attitude and practices observed among residents with higher educational levels. Socio-economic variables appear to have minimal xv bearing on solid waste handling practices by the respondents. The proportion of residents served with proper and adequate solid waste management facilities are relatively small, and reside mostly in the urban district of Wuse. Garbage is the commonest type of waste generated in the two districts. The study recommendedstrong political will and commitment at the highest government level;more effective and efficient governance mechanisms by the AEPB, through provision of proper regulatory laws and policy framework for the Board to operate;expansion and improved partnership with the private sector,which should be extended to the Local Government authorities;proper planning, which should be at par with pace of expansion and development, and improvement in funding.Finally, the AEPB must create more awareness and public education on regular basis, while enforcing environmental sanitary laws, including laws on prohibition of indiscriminate waste disposal.