Socio-economic indices affecting environmental pollution: Situation and comparative analyses of Iwo and Ibadan metropolis

Abstract

Appraisal of wide-ranging human needs in the context of environmental pollution is a subject yet to be maximally considered. In a bid to develop insight towards such relationships, situational assessment was carried out on nineteen (19) socio economic factors in Iwo and Ibadan metropolis. Random sampling of 1400 households, using a structured questionnaire, was done in Iwo Local Government Area (LGA) and in the North, North East and North West LGAs within Ibadan metropolis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analyses. Descriptive analysis employed include tabulation, percentages and mean, while Factor Analysis (FA) was used to identify and rank the factors in order of influence on environmental pollution in the two cities. From the survey in Iwo, 215 (61.4%) copies of questionnaire were completed and returned while 658 (62.7%) were retrieved from the LGAs in Ibadan metropolis. The results showed that 45.0% of the respondents in Iwo are environmentally literate compared to 57.0% in Ibadan. In terms of waste disposal in the study areas, 47.0%, 23.0%, 10.0%, 2.0% and 10.0%, respectively burn refuse, dump their wastes in gutters, patronize nearby dumpsites, patronize bush toilets and use pit toilets. FA revealed that peoples’ income, culture and educational status were the general determinants of environmental pollution with their respective explanations of 8.4%, 7.7%, 7.6% for Iwo and 8.7%, 7.9% and 7.7% for Ibadan metropolis. All the factors examined are significant at p < 0.05 but the degree of influence of the extracted critical indices on environmental pollution vary for the two cities. For Iwo, the indices explained 56.1%, while Ibadan is 57.9%, indicating that residents in both locations are culturally disposed to drainages/gutters. It was concluded that sustainable and equitable handling of socio-economic necessities demand effective consideration, in a timely way, to resolve pollution issues leading to environmental degradation. Policymakers are encouraged to acknowledge the key factors influencing environmental pollution and design policies that target income disparities, cultural practices, and educational imperatives needed to mitigate pollution and promote sustainable development. Further research is encouraged for other locations, to fully resolve and order the complex relationships between income, culture, education, and environmental pollution.