SANITARY CONDITIONS IN THE STUDENT VILLAGE, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Qualitative housing involves the provision of infrastructural services which could bring sustainable growth and development through improved environmental conditions and improved livelihood. The study aims to evaluate the sanitary condition in the student village of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, with a focus on examining the standards of the kitchen and toilets; form of water supply; characteristics of the surface drainage, sewage, and refuse disposal system. Systematic random sampling procedure was employed for the study. The sample frame was 350 buildings, 20% of these buildings which was 70 buildings represented the sample size for the students. Fourteen (14) questionnaires, 5% of the 70 buildings were also administered to the landlords. Thus, eighty-four (84) questionnaires were administered in all. Results showed that 34.2% of the kitchen was attached to the building while 28.8% of the respondents cooked in open space located within the compound. Open space dumping (68.5%) dominated the village. 88.5% of the respondents had toilets; 60% of which was water closet, while 28.6% was pit latrine. The remaining 11.5% used open defecation. This can lead to infiltration of polluted material into underground and surface water bodies especially in raining season. Many of the bathrooms (68.5%) were detached from the main building, and inbuilt shower was 31.5%. The sewage (45.7%) was drained into soak away, while 24.3% waste water flowed over the surrounding land, encouraging the breeding of mosquitoes and other diseases causing vectors. 25.8% of respondents were not connected to water supply and had to buy water from vendors around the village. Some landlords (57.4%) stated that the students managed their facilities well; while 42.6% were not satisfied with the way students managed their facilities. From the findings, poor sanitary condition prevailed in the student village. The landlords should, therefore, as a matter of urgency provide water and designated waste disposal points in every lodge for easy collection. The intervention of government in offering mortgage loan to landlords will encourage construction of quality houses. There should also be effective environmental planning and management by the professional local sanitation authorities to enforce periodic sanitation in the student village.