Perception of Disamenity Hazards on Residential Housing Values in Lagos, Nigeria

Landfill disamenities have been known to poison and threaten the natural environment with various degrees of contaminations and hazards ranging from air contamination to property diminutions. This current study identifies and evaluates the various environmental contaminants and hazards attributable to the four official landfills in Lagos State via perception. A total of 229, 2 341 and 315 structured questionnaires were administered to Estate Surveyors and Valuers, residents living within 1.2km distance from the four landfill sites and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) workers respectively and on the avearge, 78 percent were retrieved. Data analysis showed that residents living within 1.2km distance the landfills identified the most outstanding hazards detrimental to the environment and human health as poisonous odour, truck traffic, stigma, noise pollution and threats of insects, pests and rodents. The study suggested closing down of all four operational landfills sited within residential areas and also a stern discouragement of illegal dumpsites. It recommended establishment of new landfills which should run on latest technology to avert pollution and also be sited in unhabited sites out of town. This as the study envisaged would reduce to barest minimum, landfill hazards and nuisance both to the environment and man.