PARTNERSHIP APPROACH: A STRATEGY TO SOLVING URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN LAFIA TOWN, NIGERIA (Published)
The environment is increasingly characterized in terms of a crisis situation. The unique and complex characteristics of the environment entail social, political, and economic implications in its management. This paper describes the responsibilities of urban management institutions toward an efficient management of the environment in accordance with the constitution and national policies on the environment, but in practice, their operations are limited due to weak finances and little expertise in environmental management. Therefore, the community seems to have taken over the management of their environment in terms of water supply and sanitation service in a disorderly manner. The paper highlights the current state of these services and their institutional framework in Lafia town, and calls for a partnership approach in managing these urban problems. The paper also evaluates existing partnership strategy in line with good governance norms and the challenges in Lafia town. This paper finally recommends ways of addressing the challenges.
Keywords: Management, Partnership, sanitation, urban governance