URBAN ADMINISTRATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS, NIGERIA: EFFORTS AND CHALLENGES

The administration of waste management in urban cities and towns across countries of the world particularly in Africa has become an issue of interest due to fast growing human population. This paper examines the urban administration and waste management in Maiduguri Metropolis. With the adoption of assumption theory and through the use secondary data, the paper examines the effort and challenges associated with the activities of Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) in managing waste in Maiduguri metropolis. The paper found that response to waste evacuation from various collection points by BOSEPA has been slow due to shortage of waste collection and disposal machinery and materials. This has resulted in the accumulation of waste in various collection points in the metropolis. It was also found that there exist negative attitude of indiscriminate throwing of waste materials without proper use of waste collection points among the residents and it is affecting adversely the efforts of BOSEPA in maintaining clean environment. The paper therefore recommends increase in budgetary allocation to BOSEPA by the state government so as to empower it to acquire and maintain sufficient machinery and materials for waste collection and evacuation. It further recommends intensive and extensive public awareness and enlightenment in market places and other crowd gathering events so as to build the culture of proper waste disposal in the residents of the metropolis.