Urban Governance and Environmental Policy in Enugu Metropolis: A Study of Solid Waste Management (2020-2024)

This study examines the governance of solid waste management in Enugu Metropolis, evaluating how urban governance structures have shaped environmental policy outcomes between 2020 and 2024. Rapid urbanisation, inadequate infrastructure, and weak institutional enforcement have combined to create a solid waste management crisis in Nigerian secondary cities, with Enugu Metropolis particularly affected. The study is anchored on Urban Governance Theory, as articulated by Gerry Stoker, which emphasises the involvement of multiple actors including government, private sector, and communities in managing urban services. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. The population comprised Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority officials, private waste management contractors, residents of five selected wards, and environmental health officers. A sample of 275 respondents was drawn using stratified random sampling. Data was collected through questionnaires, observational field notes, and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that only 43 percent of solid waste generated in Enugu Metropolis was collected by the official waste management authority in 2023, with the remainder dumped indiscriminately in drainage channels and open spaces. The study identifies insufficient collection vehicles, poor route planning, non-payment of private contractors, and limited community participation as critical governance failures. It further finds that informal waste pickers contribute significantly to waste diversion but operate without legal recognition or safety protections. It is concluded that solid waste governance in Enugu Metropolis suffers from chronic institutional fragmentation. The study recommends integrated urban waste governance that formally incorporates informal sector actors and enforces community accountability.

Keywords: Urban governance, environmental policy, solid waste management, Enugu Metropolis, urbanisation