Summary
This policy brief assesses the implementation of Nigeria’s National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP) at Bodija Market, Ibadan. Despite high awareness and stakeholder support, sanitation outcomes remain limited due to inadequate infrastructure, poor waste management, and weak enforcement. Traders rely on a single waste collection vehicle, which is insufficient to serve the entire market, resulting in waste accumulation between designated cleanup days. Key recommendations include expanding sanitation infrastructure, increasing budgetary allocations, and promoting community-led initiatives. The study highlights the need to shift from periodic clean-up exercises to systemic, daily sanitation practices that are embedded in public health, urban planning, and community engagement strategies for long-term sustainability.
Background and Context
Over the years, poor environmental sanitation has contributed significantly to the high prevalence of communicable diseases worldwide. In Nigeria, where population growth has far outpaced infrastructure development, poor sanitation contributes to a high disease burden. Malaria, typhoid, cholera, and diarrhea remain prevalent in densely populated urban areas, particularly in markets where waste is generated daily at high volumes.
Consequently, despite increased efforts by various successive governments to improve public health and quality of life, basic health indicators have remained poor, and these sanitation-related diseases continue to be associated with ill health and poverty among the populace.
Recognizing the threat posed by poor sanitation, the Federal Government of Nigeria adopted the National Environmental Sanitation Policy (NESP) in 2005. The policy seeks to coordinate national efforts, streamline institutional responsibilities, and promote a clean, healthy environment for all citizens. One of the key components of the policy is the routine observance of environmental sanitation exercises aimed at cleaning public spaces, improving waste management practices, and reducing the disease burden. Before the enactment of the NESP (2005), the Nigerian government had put in place several legislative controls to address the environmental issues, including the Harmful (Toxic) Waste Criminal Provision Decree 42 of 1988 and others.
Despite these efforts, many urban centers across Nigeria continue to grapple with mounting sanitation challenges. This policy brief draws on findings from a field-based assessment of the NESP’s implementation in Bodija Market, Ibadan, one of the busiest foodstuff markets in the country, to provide insights into policy effectiveness, stakeholder perceptions, and implementation challenges, and to recommend a path forward.
Established in 1987, Bodija Market is a sprawling commercial hub that serves thousands of traders and buyers daily. It is a crucial node in the food distribution network of southwestern Nigeria. As with most open-air markets, the market generates a vast quantity of waste, from perishable food items to plastics and packaging materials. Given the scale of activity, ensuring proper sanitation in such a space is not just desirable—it is essential.
In Oyo State and the Bodija market, the NESP is implemented through weekly (Thursdays) and monthly (last Saturdays) sanitation exercises. On these designated days, trading activities are suspended for several hours while traders and residents are expected to clean their immediate surroundings. However, observations and reports from stakeholders suggest that these exercises alone are insufficient to address the market’s sanitation needs.
Findings: Awareness is High, but Impact is Uneven
The study conducted at Bodija Market combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. A total of 250 traders participated in a survey, while in-depth interviews were held with other stakeholders, which included environmental officers, market leaders, and waste contractors. The key findings are as follows:
1. High Awareness and Goodwill
Evidence from the study shows a broad-based awareness of the sanitation policy: 94.8% of traders are aware of the weekly and monthly sanitation activities, while 79% of them believe that these exercises help improve the market’s cleanliness. Stakeholders, including market association leaders and government officials, support the continuation of the policy, with 98% affirming its relevance. This data suggests that the level of awareness and approval of the policy provides a strong foundation for developing more effective sanitation interventions.
2. Lack of Infrastructure and Institutional Support
The study also shows that despite strong awareness and goodwill, sanitation outcomes remain suboptimal: The market lacks an on-site waste transfer station or proper waste storage infrastructure. 87.2% of traders rely on a single waste collection vehicle deployed to serve the entire market, which is grossly inadequate for the volume of daily waste generated. As a result, waste often accumulates between sanitation days, creating unsanitary conditions that negate the gains of the weekly and monthly clean-up efforts.
3. Implementation Gaps and Coordination Failures
Several systemic issues hinder effective implementation, which include low budgetary allocations at the state and local levels restricting the hiring of personnel and procurement of equipment, poor contractor oversight results in lapses in service delivery, and inadequate road access, water supply, and street lighting in the market further complicate waste collection and sanitation enforcement.
Policy in Principle vs. Practice on the Ground
The case of Bodija Market reflects a broader trend in public policy implementation in Nigeria, where good policies often fail to achieve their objectives due to weak execution and poor coordination. The NESP sets out a clear and comprehensive framework, yet in practice, it is reduced to periodic clean-up days that barely scratch the surface of the systemic challenges.
The market environment itself presents unique challenges. Open-air markets operate daily with intense commercial activity, high footfall, and substantial waste generation. Without embedded systems, such as on-site sorting facilities, well-distributed waste bins, and an efficient evacuation schedule, sanitation policies risk becoming symbolic exercises rather than effective public health interventions.
Recommendations: A Roadmap for Revitalizing Market Sanitation
To transform the NESP from an aspirational document into a tool for tangible change in Nigeria’s markets, a multi-pronged approach is necessary:
1. Invest in Sanitation Infrastructure
The government should construct localized waste sorting and holding facilities within Bodija and other large markets in the state. In addition, the government should provide multiple waste collection vehicles and sufficient bins throughout the market. Kigali, Rwanda has successfully improved waste management by establishing localized waste collection points and investing in infrastructure such as waste bins and collection trucks. The city implemented a decentralized system where waste is sorted at source and managed at the sector level, leading to significant improvements in sanitation and public health.
2. Improve Institutional Coordination and Oversight
The Ministry of Environment should clearly define the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. The ministry should also institutionalize mechanisms to rate contractor performance and integrate citizen feedback systems to ensure contractor accountability. Ghana’s Sanitation Challenge for Ghana (SC4Gh) incentivized Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to improve sanitation by defining institutional roles and introducing performance-based ratings. Citizens also participated in assessing service delivery, increasing transparency and accountability.
3. Strengthen Budgetary Commitment and Explore Public-Private Partnerships
The Ministry of Environment should increase budgetary allocations to sanitation in Oyo State while promoting public-private partnerships (PPP) to bring innovation and capital into the sector.For instance in Lagos State, the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in Nigeria partnered with private operators for waste collection and recycling. This PPP model improved efficiency, reduced the government’s financial burden, and created jobs.
4. Promote Community-Led Sanitation Initiatives
The Ministry of Environment should formally integrate market associations into local sanitation governance frameworks. In addition, regular awareness campaigns and training sessions on waste sorting, hygiene, and public health should be conducted to sensitize the public. In India, the government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) mobilized community groups and local bodies to lead sanitation drives. In states like Kerala, local market associations and self-help groups were actively involved in sorting waste and educating the public, significantly improving sanitation standards.
5. Institutionalize Monitoring and Learning
The Ministry of Environment should establish institutional mechanisms to measure indicators for policy performance and publish regular sanitation audits. Also, data from markets like Bodija should be used to inform state-wide and national strategy adjustments. In South Africa, the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) system mandates regular audits and performance assessments. Data from local municipalities is aggregated and used to adjust national infrastructure planning and financing.
Conclusion: From Policy to Practice, from Compliance to Culture
The National Environmental Sanitation Policy remains a critical instrument in Nigeria’s quest to create healthier cities. However, without matching investments in infrastructure, accountability mechanisms, and behavioural change initiatives, the policy will continue to underperform.
The experience of Bodija Market demonstrates that while awareness and intent exist, systemic and structural challenges dilute impact. Closing this gap requires a shift in how sanitation is conceived—not merely as a scheduled activity but as a daily, institutionalized practice embedded in urban planning, public health, and economic development strategies.
With coordinated action, political will, and community engagement, Nigeria can transform its markets into models of clean, safe, and sustainable commercial spaces. Bodija can lead the way.

Ismaila Salawu
Ismaila Salawu is an Evidence-informed Policymaking champion. He is a fellow at the Cheetahs Policy Institute and the Africa Research and Impact Network, Kenya.