Assessing The Effects of Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s Communication Strategies in Addressing Waste Issues in Lafia Metropolis

Abstract

Waste management issues are huge challenges facing developing and third countries of the world, and different efforts including the use of communication strategies have been employed to mitigate these challenges. Therefore, the crux of this study was to assess the Effects of Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s communication strategies in addressing waste issues in Lafia metropolis. The objectives of the study were to find out the communication strategies used by Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s in addressing waste issues in Lafia metropolis; examine the types of messages used by Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s in addressing waste issues in Lafia metropolis; explore the extent of the use of these communication strategies by Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s in addressing waste issues in Lafia metropolis; and to assess the effects of the communication strategies used by Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s in addressing waste issues in Lafia metropolis. Attitude change and persuasive communication theories were used to support the study. Data was collected from a sample population of 384 through the quantitative survey design and availability sampling technique. Findings revealed among others that the communication strategies have not been used extensively and that they have not yielded the desired impact. The study recommended that the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority’s should use a variety of communication techniques, make the communication participatory, dialogue-based, use horizontal form of communication rather than being vertical in disseminating its messages. There is also the need for the Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority communication strategies should be more focused, inclusive, wider, regular and consistent as this will assist in strengthening the people’s positive behaviour change in line with global best practices on waste management.