Page 1 of 7

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 03

April 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 261

An Appraisal of Adequacy Level of Sanitation

Facilities in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Odogiyon Agunloye ; Abu Stephen Olatunbosun

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Rufus Giwa

Polytechnic, P.M.B 1019, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

e-mail: odogiyonagunloye@yahoo.com; e-mail: abusteveola@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

This work examined the adequacy level of

sanitation facilities in residential districts of Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria. With a view to ensure that improved

sanitation facilities are in place in the city. Ado- Ekiti is one of the many cities in Nigeria that have

witnessed rapid urbanization in the recent time.

Paradoxically, urban expansion and population

increment were not complemented with adequate

improvement in urban facilities especially

sanitation facilities. It is therefore the desire of

this study to examine the adequacy level of

sanitation facilities in the city. All the existing

sanitation facilities in the study area were

identified; it examines relevant government

agencies and corporate organizations’ involvement

in the provision and management of these facilities

Information and data were obtained directly from

the targeted populations at the site of the research

using formal, structured questionnaires, oral

interviews and personal observations. Systematic

random sampling was adopted in the

administration of questionnaire on respondents at

the three residential zones that were surveyed in

Ado-Ekiti. Univariate analysis in form of tables,

maps, figures, and charts which describe the

necessary features of the data set was employed to

comprehend and explain the result of the findings.

The findings reveal that there are still some

households who uses bush and pit latrine without

slab. The research concluded, among other things,

with a suggestion that Ekiti State Government

should enhance partnership with Federal

Government and NGOs like WHO and UNICEF to

improve public health and sanitation.

1. INTRODUCTION

WHO/UNICEF (2010) defines improved sanitation

facility as one that hygienically separates human

excreta from human contact. Improved sanitation

contributes enormously to human health and well- being. Such condition can be achieved through

easy access to improved sanitation facilities. WHO

(2006) describes sanitation as package of health

related measures. It also defines it as the means of

collecting and disposing excreta and community

liquid wastes in a hygienic way so as not to

endanger the health of individual and the

community as a whole. Improved sanitation

facilities includes; Flush/pour flush (to piped sewer

system, septic tank, pit latrine with slab) and

ventilated improved pit latrine. There are anal

cleaning materials which includes; water, and toilet

paper. While, unimproved sanitation facilities

includes; Pit latrine without slab, no facilities use

bush. Anal cleaning materials, are; anything, any

paper, and maize cob, (UNICEF, 2001).

Bindeshwar (1999) viewed sanitation as a

basic condition for development. It is aimed at

improving the quality of life of the individuals and

contributes to social development and abatement of

diseases. Sadalla et al (2001) noted that the

environmental problems may be caused by

inadequate provision of facilities and residents

behaviour in communities. Despite its importance

to human life, Mosleh, Uddin and Sudhir (2005)

observed that the provision of sanitation facilities

and services is poor in developing countries.

Roland et al (2004) added that a significant number

of people in these countries lack access to adequate

water supply, environmental sanitation services

and food security.

Page 2 of 7

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 03

April 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 262

Poor sanitation contributes to the ‘death of 2.5

million children every year all over the world of

which about 40,000 children below five years of

age die in Nigeria; and about 50 diseases are linked

with poor sanitation (WHO/UNICEF, 2006). The

negative environmental practices of individuals

also contribute to this menace. In fact, the

provision of adequate sanitation facilities could at

best be referred to as means to an end since the

attitude and behavioural practices of the

stakeholders determine the end. Public perception

of the need for proper sanitation goes a long way in

providing desired solutions that would mitigate the

consequences.

Adequate sanitation is defined as the safe

management of human excreta and includes both

hardware (sanitation technology) and software

(hygiene promotion, such as hand washing with

soap). Inadequate sanitation is not a new concern.

Ado-Ekiti is one of the many cities in Nigeria that

have witnessed rapid urbanization in the recent

time. This is largely explained by its

transformation from a Local Government

headquarter to capital city following the creation of

Ekiti State in 1996. Paradoxically, urban

expansion and population increment were not

complemented with adequate improvement in

urban facilities especially sanitation facilities. It is

therefore the desire of this study to assess the

spatial adequacy of sanitation facilities in Ado- Ekiti.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Research Site

Ado-Ekiti situates in the South West Nigeria. It is

the capital city of Ekiti State. It is located between

latitude 70 35 1 and 70

471 North of the equator

and longitude 50

111

and 50

16 1

East of the

Greenwich meridian (Fig.1). It is bounded on the

North and West by Ifelodun/Irepodun Local

Government and East and South by Gbonyin, Ikere

and Ekiti South West Local Government (Fig.2).

Its longest North –South extent is 16km and the

longest East –West stretch is about 20km.The

population in 2006 was 308,621 (2006 National

Population census figure). The people of Ado Ekiti

are mainly of the Yoruba ethnic group. Ado Ekiti

parades several educational institutions and

government establishments including the

University of Ado Ekiti, The Federal Polytechnic,

Ado Ekiti, Afe Babalola University, National

Television Authority, Ekiti State Television, Ekiti

Radio, and FM Ado Ekiti among others. In

addition, various commercial enterprises operate in

Ado Ekiti. They include Odua textile and Odua

print. The city is the regional trade centre for farm

produce including; yams, cassava and grains. Over

the years, Ado-Ekiti has played prominent role in

political administration in Nigeria. In January,

1913, it was made the headquarters of Ekiti district

by the colonial administration. The town

continued to enjoy political relevance until 1996

when it became the state capital. Traditionally and

culturally, Ado-Ekiti is headed by the Ewi, the

sovereign head of Ado-Ekiti kingdom.

2.2. The Database

This research employed structured questionnaire

and personal interview to examine the adequacy

level of sanitation facilities in residential districts

of Ado-Ekiti. The questionnaires were

administered on the residents while the staff of the

Department of Environmental Health of the

Ministry of Health and the staff of Ekiti- State

Water Corporation were interviewed. For the

purpose of this research, systematic random

sampling was adopted in the administration of

questionnaire on respondents of the three

residential zones that were identified in Ado-Ekiti,

by Olajuyigbe (2007). They include; the urban core,

transitional zone and urban periphery. With

reference to figure 1 overleaf, the area with grey

colour is the core area of Ado Ekiti.The transitional

zone is the portion coloured yellow on the same

figure, while the green area is the urban periphery.

Page 3 of 7

Journal for Studies in Management and Planning

Available at http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/index.php/JSMaP

e-ISSN: 2395-0463

Volume 01 Issue 03

April 2015

Available online: http://internationaljournalofresearch.org/ P a g e | 263

Fig. 1

The 2006 population census of the Federal

Republic of Nigeria gave the population of Ado- Ekiti as 313, 690. This was projected to 368,064,

using 2.7% as growth rate to 2012. WHO/UNICEF

(2010) put the average households of Nigeria at 7

persons. This implies that there are about 52,581

households in Ado-Ekiti. 1% of the total number of

the households in Ado-Ekiiti (which amount to

526) was chosen as the sample size. This is

plausible as there are traits of homogeneity in

habitability in this study area. 50% of the 526

questionnaires were administered at the urban core

which is the most traditional area in the city and

inhabited by low income people and by few

wealthy indigenes that appear inclined to living in

the area due to traditional tie. 35% of the

questionnaires were administered at the transitional

zone which appears to be at medium level when

compared with urban core and periphery. The

remaining 15% were administered at the urban

periphery.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1 Types of Toilet Facilities in Ado-Ekiti.

The major type of toilet facilities accessed by

households in Ado – Ekiti include. Flush toilet

(40.7%), pit latrine with slab (18.8%), households

without toilets facility who use bush, open field or

undeveloped plots (15.2%). Other toilets facilities

which are of less significance include: pit latrine

without slab (9.1%), ventilated improved pit

(8.7%), and sanitation platform latrine (2.7%).

(Table 1). The above pattern of results, however,

varies from zone to zone (table 1) in the urban

core, (40.3%) of the households uses flush toilets,

(21.7%) pit latrine with slab, (16.0%) have no

toilets facility, they either make use of near by

bush or open field, 10% of the households use pit

latrine without slab, (7.6%) ventilated improve pit,

and (2.2%) sanitation platform latrine. Households

in the transitional zone depend largely on flush

toilets (45.7%), households with no toilets facilities

who use bush, open field, or near by undeveloped

plots (16.8%), pit latrine with slab (15.2%),

ventilated improved pit (10.9%) pit latrine without

slab (9.8%), very few of the households (1.1%) use

sanitation platform latrine. Respondents in urban

periphery depend mainly on flush toilets (30.3%)

and pit latrine with slab (17.7%) others like those

who do not have toilets facility at their various

homes, who use bush, open field or nearby

undeveloped plots (8.9%), sanitation platform

latrine (7.6%), pit latrine without slab (5.1%),

ventilated improve pit (3.8%). It becomes obvious

from this pattern that the most available toilets