Analysis of Spatial Characteristics of Solid Wastes Generation and Distribution in Selected Urban Areas of Kogi East, Nigeria.

In this study, a geospatial assessment of the volumes of solid waste generated and managed in selected locations in a relatively large developing region of Kogi East, Nigeria, was carried out with a view to analyzing their spatial spread. Generally, the relationship between solid waste generation and management and the development of infrastructures in any society grows correspondingly with urbanization. Similarly, as the region’s demographic and morphologic character changes and increases, so is the increasing generation and accumulation of wastes. By implication, the need to sustainably manage these wastes also rises. But the most worrisome is the attenuated negative effects of these wastes to the region’s socio-economic and biophysical development phenomena, particularly at a time when Kogi East region houses a population of over 1,000 000, with its numerous rural industrial complexes. Kogi East, at an average volume, generates over 6179 tons of solid waste annually. This submission absolutely reflected the background objective for this research. The methods used in this study include empirical survey and theoretical search. Field data were generated randomly from 50 sample locations across the study area and subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics; the Fishers g1 and g2 statistics was then used for analyses. The technique of analysis included data tabulation, frequency distribution and testing, and calculating for normality and moments in the data respectively. The frequency distribution was demonstrated with a histogram that pictorially demonstrated the spatial character of solid wastes generated in the study area. Deriving from the ratios in the test for significance, the statistical assumption was accepted hence the critical f’ values were higher than the calculated values of g1/SEg1 and g2/SEg2, i.e. 1.54 and -0.32. Based on this testing, the distribution of solid wastes generation in the study area has thus been confirmed normal at 95% confidence level. The general interpretation is that there is a correlation between and a corresponding increase in the volume of solid wastes generation and population increase, along the tract of urban growth.