Challenges and Performance Improvement Strategies for Waste Scavengers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Solid waste scavengers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, contribute significantly to waste recovery and urban sanitation, yet they face persistent challenges that limit their effectiveness and threaten their livelihoods. This study aimed to examine the challenges confronting waste scavengers and propose performance improvement strategies to enhance their integration into formal waste management systems. A descriptive survey design was employed, involving 120 respondents selected from ten major scavenger depots across Abuja through purposive and accidental sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, field observations, and interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Findings revealed that the most critical challenges include lack of permanent depots, threats of relocation by government agencies, theft of properties, inadequate policy support, stigmatization, and occasional public assault. Among these, relocation threats (98%) and absence of permanent sites (99%) were the most widely reported. Respondents also expressed strong needs for formal recognition, policy protection, access to credit, and the establishment of recycling infrastructure. The mean scores for these needs ranged from 4.67 to 4.81, indicating strong consensus. In conclusion, the study highlights the urgent need for government intervention through policy reform, infrastructure support, and financial empowerment. It recommends formal recognition of scavengers, provision of secured depots, access to credit facilities, and investment in recycling infrastructure. If addressed, these measures could transform waste scavenging from an informal, stigmatized activity into a structured and sustainable sector that contributes meaningfully to urban development and environmental sustainability in Abuja.