Public perception of environmental sanitation regulations on solid waste management in Owo and Akure cities, Ondo State, Nigeria

Sanitation is critical for public health, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. Beyond maintaining clean surroundings, effective sanitation reduces stress, anxiety, and disease burdens. However, in Nigeria, particularly in urban centres like Akure and Owo, compliance with environmental sanitation laws remains inconsistent. Understanding residents’ perceptions of these laws is therefore essential for strengthening solid waste management systems. This study employed a quantitative research design using structured questionnaires administered to residents in Akure and Owo, Ondo State. The survey of 600 questionnaires with 350 and 250 from Akure and Owo respectively yielded 100% retrieval. Data were analysed using Factor Analysis with SPSS software to identify key factors influencing perceptions of environmental sanitation regulations. In Akure, five principal components explained 64.2% of the variance in perception. Community leadership was the most significant factor, accounting for 20.5% of the variance, followed by the belief that waste management is primarily a government responsibility (17.4%) and weak enforcement (14.4%). In Owo, seven principal components explained 60.5% of the variance. The dominant factor was gendered perception, with 15.3% of the variance attributed to the belief that women are primarily responsible for waste management. Other notable factors included poor monitoring by law enforcement (13%), efficacy of enforcement agents (10.9%), and governance quality (7.3%). While both cities shared concerns related to enforcement and governance, cultural context strongly shaped perceptions in Owo. The study highlights the complex socio-cultural and institutional drivers of compliance with sanitation laws in Nigerian urban areas. It concludes that culturally sensitive strategies are essential, particularly those that leverage community leadership in Akure and challenge restrictive gender norms in Owo. Strengthening law enforcement capacity, improving governance transparency, and promoting inclusive community participation are recommended to achieve sustainable compliance and effective solid waste management.