Impact of Ogbor Hill Waste Dumpsite on Socio-Economic Activities of Urban Dwellers in Aba Metropolis, Abia State, Nigeria

The focus of this research is on impact of Ogbor hill waste dumpsite on socio-economic activities of urban dwellers in Aba metropolis, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used in the study. The primary data were acquired from the fieldwork survey through the use of structured questionnaire. Data collection were carried out on weekends in order to ensure equal participation of respondents in the study area. The population of the study involved all residential properties located within the radius of between 100m to 1000m around Ogbor hill dumpsite in Aba Metropolis. The total enumerated houses found within this radius in the study area was 353. The types of socio-economic impacts associated with the waste dumpsite location were identified as change in migration trends, change in population characteristics and disruption of settlement. Similarly, the level of impact was also identified on change in economic pattern, change in occupational distribution, decrease in income, devaluation of property and change in structural pattern of properties. The findings of the study also revealed that change in compliance of land use plans have been evident in the study area as perceived by majority of sampled respondents (66.3 %). Interestingly, the study further showed that the location of the dumpsite has effect on values of land and the relocation of economically viable structures in the area. The findings revealed that 23.8 % of total respondents have not experienced these changes while 76.2 % of the total respondents have experienced these changes in the study area. The study recommends effective urban land use planning and absolute compliance with stipulated urban land use plans to reduce further impacts and protect against future challenges in the study area, proactive measures directed on the implementation of proper urban land use planning and strict adherence to urban land use plans for proper land use assessment in Nigerian urban areas that will not allow the location of urban residential apartment close to already located waste dumpsites.