Evaluating the Organizational Structure of Environmental Management Agencies in Addressing Urban Environmental Problems of Nigerian Cities: Towards Efficiency in Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State

Abstract

Organizational structures of any agency determine the efficiency of that agency in the fulfillment of its mandate in service delivery since it galvanizes the operations therein. In an attempt to address the various environmental problems defacing the cities, the Nigerian government had set up environmental protection agencies with the sole mandate of protecting and developing the environment. This task seems so challenging to these agencies that despite what seem to be their spirited efforts over the years; the problems persist and even seems to be on the increase including erosion, flooding, traffic congestion, pollution and solid waste management problems among many others. Studies have established that factors such as manpower, funding, equipment, and even changes in administration among others do have significant influence on the performance of these agencies. It is evident that there had been an increment in government budgetary provisions for the services of these agencies to the tune of billions of naira and yet, there is little or nothing to show for it. This study therefore looks into the Organizational structure of the environmental management agency in the cities of Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria with a view to examining its composition and operations towards addressing the challenges of urban environmental problems of the cities. Findings show that the environmental management agency is engulfed in bureaucratic bottle neck and role conflict. The Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) edict of 1998 established this agency which is saddled with the responsibility of protection and development of the environment of the state and have functioned for over ten years without any restructuring. The study further revealed that ANSEPA’s performance on its mandate delivery was poor as adjudged by a sample size of 20 respondents in the Hierarchy of ANSEPA officials at a mean score rating of 18%. Its operations and functions covers solid waste disposal, flood control, erosion control, pollution control and traffic decongestion and this formed the basis for this performance assessment on its service delivery. Her major preoccupation was on solid waste evacuation; even so without some modern disposal techniques and equipment. The devised intervention rate put solid waste disposal at 58.2%, 15.0% to flood control, 15.0% to erosion control, 7.2% to pollution control and 14.2% to traffic decongestion. The Hypothesis result at ?² value = 0.595 and probability value = 0.898 showed that the rating of ANSEPA’s performance in Awka and Onitsha by the Hierarchy of ANSEPA officials did not differ significantly. The study recommends a review of its edict so as to incorporate proper public sector reform that would foster effective partnership and holistic urban and rural environmental management mechanism. Also, the organizational structure should be made free of bureaucratic bottle neck and role conflict, adopt modern methods, techniques, equipment and properly streamlined enforcement and punitive measures for defaulters in the state.

Key Words: organizational structure, environmental management agencies, urban environmental problems