Residents’ Satisfaction with Solid Waste Management Services in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Nigeria: Evidence from the Garki District

Abstract

Resident dissatisfaction with Solid Waste Management (SWM) services remains a critical urban governance challenge in developing countries, where collection systems are overstretched, open dumping is prevalent, and institutional responsiveness is weak. This study assessed residents' satisfaction with SWM services in the Garki district of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Nigeria, with the aim of identifying key factors influencing satisfaction and proposing evidence-based improvements. A quantitative survey design was employed, and structured Likert scale questionnaires were administered to 360 household heads selected through a multi-stage sampling approach across seven Garki sub-areas. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (mean ranking and standard deviation) and exploratory factor analysis (Principal Component Analysis). Results revealed that waste receptacles and collection vehicles were the only service components rated as effective, while collection frequency, geographical coverage, site sanitation, and schedule predictability were only partially or moderately available. Residents expressed satisfaction with collection frequency (mean = 3.588) and punctuality (mean = 3.559) but registered low satisfaction with odor and pest control (mean = 2.433), complaint responsiveness (mean = 2.103), and public awareness campaigns (mean = 2.063). Factor analysis extracted two principal components explaining 85.80% of total variance: Component 1 (72.05%) captured systemic service performance dimensions, while Component 2 (13.75%) reflected operational and environmental hygiene concerns. The study concludes that AMAC's SWM system is operationally functional but structurally inadequate, with critical gaps in environmental hygiene, communication, and citizen engagement. It recommends expanding infrastructure coverage, strengthening complaint-response mechanisms, and revitalising community education on waste management.