Bright Spots in Community Engagement: Case Studies of U.S. Communities Creating Greater Civic Participation from the Bottom Up

Communities across our nation are experimenting with new ways to engage citizens in the decisions made by civic leaders from the public, private and non-pro!t sectors, working sometimes together and sometimes at cross purposes. Ultimately, success at making democracy work and sustaining healthy communities requires engaged individuals, organizations, and institutions.Across our country, community engagement bright spots are emerging. These initiatives foster a sense of attachment, expand access to information and resources, and create opportunities for citizens to play more active roles in setting priorities, addressing issues, and planning the longer-term sustainability of their communities. The National League of Cities, working with The John S. and James L Knight Foundation, selected 14 communities that the two institutions are engaged with to explore how well or poorly some of these experiments are faring today. This analysis then focused more closely on four communities -- Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Austin -- to document the lessons learned and the challenges ahead

Assessing the Magnitude of Urban Infrastructure and Facilities Provision and Maintenance in Enugu, Nigerian

The beauty of urban area stems from the availability and functionality of urban infrastructure and facilities. Governments often tend to establish her legitimacy by expending huge money on the provision and maintenance of basic infrastructure and facilities especially in urban areas. Studies have shown that the Nigerian population is 50% urban hence, her cities faces rapid urbanization with its associated problems which include pressure on available infrastructure and facilities. This paper aims at investigating the extent of urban infrastructure and facilities provision and maintenance in Enugu metropolis with a view to proffering sustainable measures that will enhance the area. The study revealed that while efforts have been made over the years towards providing and enhancing the functionality of urban infrastructure and facilities in the city and given a growth rate of 2.5% and the current urban population of about 927,642 residents, the available infrastructure and facilities in the city was adjudged not only so meager but also worrisome due to poor state of maintenance. The study therefore recommended for an articulated government action which would ensure that the urban infrastructure and facilities are maintained. Public participation and public partnership with the private sector, None Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) among other sustainable measures for the provision and maintenance of urban infrastructure and facilities in the city, was advocated. Key Words: Urban Infrastructure and Facilities, Magnitude of Provision and Maintenance, Enugu, Nigeria

Impact of Flooding on Riverine Communities: The Experience of The Omambala and Other Areas in Anambra State, Nigeria

Globally, riverine areas are naturally prone to flooding. In the year 2012, flooding for the first time became a national disaster in Nigeria and Anambra state was identified as one of the most affected states. 7 million people were affected; 2.3 million people were victims of internal displacement while 363 people were reportedly killed. Out of the 21 Local government areas in Anambra state, 8 were affected. 5 out of these 8 comprise the Omambala area and were the most adversely affected area. Records revealed that house and other public and private properties, infrastructure and facilities worth billions of naira were fully or partly submerged and destroyed. Government in her intervention effort in the state provided 24- Internally Displaced People’s refugee camps and supplied relief materials. International donor agencies like UNICEF, UN and EU as well as non governmental organizations and philanthropists, also supported with relief materials worth billions of naira. Till date, the living conditions of the dwellers remain deplorable. This study sought to examine the impact of flooding on the Omambala and other riverine areas with a view to determining its nature so as to evolve measures that can enhance the living condition of the people.  Primary data obtained with structured interview and secondary data from State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were used. Taro Yamane (1967) formula was used to derived a sample size of 400 household heads was selected using the systematic sampling technique. Data was analyzed and the result revealed that flooding greatly impacted the economic life of the people; their social, cultural and the religious aspects of their lives. There were issues of lose of human and animal lives; destruction of agricultural products; housing, educational, transportation commercial and other infrastructural facilities worth billions of naira. Family and social ties and activities were also hampered while daily livelihood activities were disrupted, good sources of water were polluted and the environment degraded. Hunger, high cost of living, infestation of snakes, flies and other disease vectors and general deplorable living conditions were identified as some of the negative impacts of flooding in the area. Economic empowerments of poor riverine dwellers through cooperative societies coupled with Public participation in flood control activities among other mitigation measures were recommended. Keywords: Impact, Flooding, Riverine communities, Omambala and other riverine areas

Towards Incorporating the Informal Sector Operators in the Organizational Structure of Solid Waste Management Agencies in Anambra State, Nigeria

The disregard for the informal sector operators (scavengers or waste pickers) in solid waste management system in Nigeria has led to their non inclusion in policies and in the organizational structure of waste management agencies. Informal sector contributions in solid waste management system has been huge in view of their activities in sorting re-usable and recyclable materials from heaps of refuse in dumpsites and converting these wastes to wealth at a high risk of their health. This contradicts the official perception of urban waste pickers as mentally derailed persons. This paper looks into the response of a sample of these operators towards participating in urban solid waste management system in Nigeria and emphasized on positive actions to government and its agencies towards the increasing operations of the sector with respect to sustainable solid waste management options so as to determine ways of incorporating them into the organizational structure of the government agencies. A review of existing environmental management laws in the state and indeed the entire country was recommended so as to foster proper public sector reform that would effectively incorporate the informal sector in order to ensure job creation and sustainable environmental management mechanism. Key words: Informal sector; Organizational structure; Solid waste managemen

Urban Environmental Landscaping: A Strategy for Improving the Environmental Quality of Nigerian Cities

The objective of physical planning is to transform the developable and developed surfaces of a settlement into a healthy and functional environment for its residents. Landscaping is the tool for urban improvement which aims at enhancing the beauty and aesthetic quality of the environment, for the use of man. This paper focuses on the importance of landscaping for an improved urban environmental quality in an era of rapid urbanization in Nigeria. While acknowledging the fact that a greater percentage of the Nigerian urban environment is in very deplorable conditions the writer highlights the advantages of landscaping as a strategy for improving the environmental quality of our cities. The study revealed a gross neglect of urban landscaping in Nigeria. Policy recommendations geared towards effective landscaping of the urban environment for improved physical development were made. Keywords: Urban Environmental Landscaping, Strategy for Improving the Environmental Quality, Nigerian Citie

Evaluating the Organizational Structure of Environmental Management Agencies in Addressing Urban Environmental Problems of Nigerian Cities: Towards Efficiency in Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State

Organizational structures of any agency determine the efficiency of that agency in the fulfillment of its mandate in service delivery since it galvanizes the operations therein. In an attempt to address the various environmental problems defacing the cities, the Nigerian government had set up environmental protection agencies with the sole mandate of protecting and developing the environment. This task seems so challenging to these agencies that despite what seem to be their spirited efforts over the years; the problems persist and even seems to be on the increase including erosion, flooding, traffic congestion, pollution and solid waste management problems among many others. Studies have established that factors such as manpower, funding, equipment, and even changes in administration among others do have significant influence on the performance of these agencies. It is evident that there had been an increment in government budgetary provisions for the services of these agencies to the tune of billions of naira and yet, there is little or nothing to show for it. This study therefore looks into the Organizational structure of the environmental management agency in the cities of Awka and Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria with a view to examining its composition and operations towards addressing the challenges of urban environmental problems of the cities. Findings show that the environmental management agency is engulfed in bureaucratic bottle neck and role conflict. The Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) edict of 1998 established this agency which is saddled with the responsibility of protection and development of the environment of the state and have functioned for over ten years without any restructuring. The study further revealed that ANSEPA’s performance on its mandate delivery was poor as adjudged by a sample size of 20 respondents in the Hierarchy of ANSEPA officials at a mean score rating of 18%. Its operations and functions covers solid waste disposal, flood control, erosion control, pollution control and traffic decongestion and this formed the basis for this performance assessment on its service delivery. Her major preoccupation was on solid waste evacuation; even so without some modern disposal techniques and equipment. The devised intervention rate put solid waste disposal at 58.2%, 15.0% to flood control, 15.0% to erosion control, 7.2% to pollution control and 14.2% to traffic decongestion. The Hypothesis result at ?² value = 0.595 and probability value = 0.898 showed that the rating of ANSEPA’s performance in Awka and Onitsha by the Hierarchy of ANSEPA officials did not differ significantly. The study recommends a review of its edict so as to incorporate proper public sector reform that would foster effective partnership and holistic urban and rural environmental management mechanism. Also, the organizational structure should be made free of bureaucratic bottle neck and role conflict, adopt modern methods, techniques, equipment and properly streamlined enforcement and punitive measures for defaulters in the state. Key Words: organizational structure, environmental management agencies, urban environmental problems

Hazard Reduction Strategies for Flood Vulnerable Communities of Anambra State, Nigeria: Towards Sustainability

Anambra state was designated as the most acutely flood-affected state in Nigeria after the unprecedented flood hazards of year-2012 which was seen as a national disaster in the history of the country. 57 communities in 8 local government areas of the state were affected. Reports has it that 7 million people were affected, 363 people killed and 2.3 million fell victims of internal displacement and evacuated to the available 24Flood Refugee Camps provide by government for Internally Displaced People. Federal, State and Local Governments spent billions of naira on relief materials. International donor agencies like UNICEF, UN and EU as well as non governmental organizations and philanthropists also supported the flood victims with relief materials worth billions of naira. The flood has come and gone; leaving behind irreparable effects on the people and government. Uncertainty, untold hardship and severe living condition are some of the resultant impact on the residents of the affected areas who currently dwell in deplorable conditions. Major loses include human and animal lives; agricultural products; housing, educational, health, transportation, commercial and other infrastructural facilities. Family and social ties and activities were hampered while daily livelihood activities were disrupted, water sources were polluted and the environment degraded thereby resulting to hunger, high cost of living and high morbidity rate. This study seeks out sustainable strategies for enhancing the structure and mode of operations of flood management agencies in Nigeria as a whole, and in the flood vulnerable communities of Anambra state in particular. Secondary data from the records of national, state and local Emergency Management agency and primary data through structure interview of the staff of the agencies used as respondents; were utilized. Sustainably creating, reviewing and implementing, flood control and management policies while incorporating public participation among other mitigation measures were recommended, towards ensuring social, economic and environment empowerment of the people. Key words: Hazard Reduction Strategies, Flood Vulnerable Communities in Anambra State and Sustainabilit

Mass Transportation System in Nigeria: Strategies for Effective Maintenance Culture in Public Sector Operations of Enugu State

Transportation is the engine that drives the growth and development of people and countries. Mass transportation is the movement of large number of people, goods and services from one place to another in one vehicle. It is therefore inevitable for the socio-economic and socio-cultural integration of nations. Up till date, the Nigerian government expends huge financial resources on mass transportation sector on an annual basis particularly road transportation, which is the focus of this study. Despite this, the increasing rate of accidents crashes and break down of vehicles prevails. Some aspects of the sector like the railway system have gone moribund. The sector is beset and littered with obsolete and broken down vehicles and facilities; inadequacy of modern vehicles, carriers and facilities; prevalence of obsolete facilities and vehicles that are in poor conditions, poor operational capacity among other worrisome conditions. These have led to high rate of accidents and crashes; lose of lives, properties, man hour and per capita income; general environmental pollution, congestion and degradation; economic retardation as well as unsustainable development in the country. Though the Nigerian public mass transportation system has evolved over the years, it still faces huge challenges which bother much on maintenance culture. Maintenance for the mode and means of mass transportation facilities in Nigeria is being relegated to the background while favoring new procurements. This paper therefore looks into the public operated mass transportation system in Enugu state, Nigeria, with a view to determining strategies for effective maintenance culture for a sustainable development. The study revealed that the Enugu State Transportation Company (ENTRACO) has been operating under capacity and the official record of ENTRACO for the year-2013showed that this public sector operated mass transport system currently has forty three operational buses out of which 60% are functional while 40% are out of service. 95% of responses by the randomly selected administrative heads in the organizational hierarchy of ENTRACO, identified gross lack of maintenance culture as the bane of the sector which hitherto, operates below capacity in its service delivery to the over teeming population and commuters in the state.  Privatization, public private partnership among others anchored on total overhauled mass transportation system and a properly reviewed policy that enthrones an efficient management and enforcement machinery which guarantees an articulated maintenance culture were recommended. Key words: Mass Transportation System, Maintenance Culture, Public Sector Operators in Enugu, Nigeri

Public Participation in Development Control Activities in Awka City, Anambra State, Nigeria

One of the vital tools for effective management and planning of towns and cities is development control and this requires the efforts of both the government and citizens. Public participation has been identified as a catalyst for effective and sustainable developmental policy implementation in a people-oriented holistic approach at minimal cost. Planning and production of planning schemes or master plans is normally followed by the major task of proper implementation and monitoring so as to ensure that developers and indeed the people of the area, adhere strictly to the provisions of the plan, using development control machineries. Since these plans are for the people, the need for their participation cannot be over emphasized in securing of higher compliance level at minimal costs. This study sought to examine the level of public participation in the development control activities of Anambra State Urban Development Board (ASUDEB) so as to determine improvement measures for its activities in Awka city. The study employed secondary data from the official records of ASUDEB and primary data from structured interview of staff and urban developers, randomly selected to form a sample size of 400 determined using Taro Yamane formulae. It was revealed that between 2002 and 2011 year period, Anambra State Urban Development Board (ASUDEB) had no public participation programs in development control activities in the city. The result revealed a high rate of demolition exercises with many developers as victims. Plans submission for approval got the highest patronage of public involvement at 97.2% rate while complaints and reports had Encroachment at 0.3%; Trespass at 0.6%; Blockage of Access roads/ Drainages at 0.6%; and building contraventions at 1.3%. Urban developers in the city expressed dissatisfaction in this type of development control approach. Majority of them termed it embarrassing and extortive. They expressed willingness to participate more in development control activities while calling for transparency in these activities. Key words: Public participation, Development, Development control, and Development control activities

Investigation of Vitamin D Metabolites using Different Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (IM-MS) Methods

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