This study protocol serves as a blueprint for a research endeavor that outlines the systematic step by step approach and methodology for conducting a comprehensive study on the environmental and health impact of illegal dumping of solid waste in Lagos State, Nigeria. In developing the research methodology for this study, well-established and proven research methods described and tested in published academic studies were employed. Specifically, this study drew from the work of [
1,
2] who employed similar methods in their studies.
Over the past decades, environmental concerns have increasingly become a global issue, with the adverse effects of poor waste management practices being a critical challenge for society worldwide [
3,
4]. Improper waste disposal, including illegal dumping, has resulted in environmental degradation, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of individuals and communities [
5]. Despite global efforts to properly manage solid waste, illegal dumping remains a significant contributor to environmental degradation, particularly in developing countries, with African nations bearing the highest burden [
6,
7].
In developing countries, including Nigeria, the challenges of managing solid waste have been compounded by rapid population growth, increased urbanization, poverty, and inadequate government support [
8]. There exists a real-time correlation between urbanization, population growth, industrialization, and waste generation [
9]. Lagos State, as one of the fastest-growing urban centers in Nigeria, faces a significant challenge in effectively managing its solid waste, with illegal dumping becoming a widespread practice. This practice can lead to severe environmental and health consequences, including water, soil, and air contamination, and the spread of diseases [
6,
10]. As a result, illegal dumping has been characterized as a “wicked act” due to its complexities, including intractable, open-ended problems and rights-based and legal issues [
10]. Illegal dumping, a significant contributor to poor waste management, leads to many types of environmental pollution in communities, costing cities worldwide millions yearly for cleanup [
11]. The continuous increase in urban populations is a precursor to an increase in waste generation rates and, consequently, indiscriminate solid waste disposal, contributing to environmental challenges such as water, soil, and air pollution; blocked water drains, resulting in flooding and water stagnation in drainage systems; and waste items that favor water-borne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue [
7].
Therefore, effective waste management should prioritize public health and environmental protection, aligning with the integrated sustainable waste management (ISWM) model. This model suggests that waste must be managed in a way that safeguards public health and the environment, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), emphasizing sustainable waste management and the mitigation of negative environmental impacts [
12].
1.1. Illegal Dumping in Developing Countries (Africa)
Waste generation in African cities is among the lowest in the world, but the demand for waste services is not met due to the unavailability of reliable, geographically comprehensive data and information [
6]. As a result, it is very challenging to plan, evaluate, and monitor local, national, and regional waste management systems, which leads to improper management of solid waste and the multiple facets of waste management challenges faced by all African countries [
13]. According to the UNEP, available records show that 13% of MSW generated in sub-Saharan Africa is made of plastic, and 57% is organic waste, with a collection rate of 55%, the majority of which is currently dumped illegally, undermining Africa’s efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
1.2. The Challenges Faced in Dealing with Illegal Dumping in Nigerian Cities
In most Nigerian cities, solid waste management poses a significant environmental concern [
14]. Urbanization-related rapid population growth in Abuja metropolitan areas, the rapid increase in waste generation rates that resulted from this, the high cost of waste disposal, the exhaustion of landfill space, and the difficulty of obtaining new disposal sites that results in open dumping are the issues that have made it difficult for the state and local environmental protection authorities to effectively and efficiently manage the growing volumes of waste generated by the city [
15]. According to Kadafa [
15], improperly disposed solid waste has become an environmental and health hazard in areas like the suburbs of Abuja, within which open illegal dumps are a common sight, with waste management authorities blaming it on the attitude and educational level of the populace; the populace, on the other hand, attributes it to the authorities’ infrequent collection, with some areas not receiving waste management services. The Abuja Environmental Protection Board’s (AEPB) characterization of municipal solid waste shows that organic waste (50%), paper (25%), and plastics, including water sachets (18%), account for most of the solid waste generated in Abuja, posing environmental and public health risks if discarded illegally [
15]. A study conducted in Kubwa-Abuja to investigate the hazardous influence of leachate on the environment as a result of poor waste disposal indicated that diarrhea, dysentery, and malaria were the most common ailments in the population [
16].
Due to the city’s growing population, as well as its industrial and economic development, Akure’s solid waste generation has risen steadily over time, from an estimated 60,000 metric tonnes annually in 1996 to 75,000 metric tonnes in 2006 [
17]. As a result, numerous studies have attempted to assess the potential effects. The study by Ojo (2020), carried out in Akure, revealed a 62.5% collection rate of municipal waste by municipal authorities while the remaining 37.5% was subjected to illegal dumping and open burning, with the highest proportion of the solid waste being organic (27%) and plastics (18%). Illegal dumping and open burning would present environmental and public health risks to the city due to the well-known environmental and health issues with organic and plastic waste. Groundwater contamination, unpleasant odors, uncontrolled dumping, and risk to public health are the main issues associated with indiscriminate waste disposal. According to a study of the public health implications of solid waste management in Akure, measles, diarrhea, malaria, and typhoid fever where the most common illnesses linked to poor environmental sanitation [
17].
Lagos, one of Africa’s megacities and Nigeria’s economic and financial center, is increasingly undergoing urbanization and industrialization, placing a burden on its finances and infrastructures, resulting in inadequate service delivery in sectors such as environmental health and waste management [
18]. The state is thus faced with the challenge of the successful management of solid waste generated by millions of residents by ensuring a safe environment through the collection, transportation, disposal, and resource recovery of municipal solid waste [
19]. Collection of waste from inner cities and informal settlements is a major challenge; the inefficiency frequently encountered in the waste collection can be attributed to factors such as bad roads, the city’s traffic congestion, and the nature of vehicles used for collection [
20]. Due to these inadequacies, a vast amount of waste is uncollected as well as dumped in unauthorized places, resulting in an estimate of up to 80,000 tonnes of waste generated in a period of six months dumped in 100 illegal dumpsites in Lagos [
21]. A study conducted on two communities where major landfills are in Lagos revealed constant bouts of malaria as the major ailment suffered by residents, as well as skin irritation and chest-related problems [
22].
1.3. Problem Statement
Illegal dumping is a significant environmental degradation issue that poses health risks to humans, animals, and the environment. Despite efforts by countries to manage solid waste properly, illegal dumping still accounts for a major portion of all waste generated globally, with the burden disproportionately affecting African countries. In Nigeria, illegal dumping presents a significant health risk to both the environment and human health [
15,
23,
24], with uncollected waste being a common sight on the streets of Lagos and other parts of the country [
25]. Poor waste disposal education, inadequate waste management practices, and the prevalence of illegal dumping sites are some of the most pressing issues facing waste management authorities in Nigeria. Another contributing factor to this problem is the negative perception of waste management among the public [
26] and the inability of waste management authorities to collect waste timeously. This research initiative uses Lagos State as a case study to assess the impact of illegal dumping of solid waste on public health, with a particular focus on its implications for environmental degradation and health risks.