The purpose of this book, Local Government in Western Nigeria: Abeokuta, 1830-1952, A case study of exemplary institutional change, is to delineate the democratization process of governmental institutions in the city of Abeokuta, western Nigeria, during the 1940s and 1950s. The Egba at Abeokuta were chosen because they are an important ethnicity within the Yoruba, the then third most populous ethnic group in Nigeria. The period from 1939 to 1952 marks the time when western Nigeria was ruled via the native administration system - the local governmental structure instituted by the British. However, the historiography of the Egba is elongated to include the formation of Abeokuta in 1830. By 1952, government was nominally extended to every constituency in Abeokuta. This presaged the comprehensive democratization movement in Nigeria.

The purpose of this book, Local Government in Western Nigeria: Abeokuta, 1830-1952, A case study of exemplary institutional change, is to delineate the democratization process of governmental institutions in the city of Abeokuta, western Nigeria, during the 1940s and 1950s. The Egba at Abeokuta were chosen because they are an important ethnicity within the Yoruba, the then third most populous ethnic group in Nigeria. The period from 1939 to 1952 marks the time when western Nigeria was ruled via the native administration system - the local governmental structure instituted by the British. However, the historiography of the Egba is elongated to include the formation of Abeokuta in 1830. By 1952, government was nominally extended to every constituency in Abeokuta. This presaged the comprehensive democratization movement in Nigeria.

Effective governance is typified by transparency, accountability, credibility, and stability of the governing body, as well as by the cooperative partnership of public sector, private sector, and civil society. In Africa today, good governance is central to the achievement of sustainable and equitable development. But Africa is rapidly urbanizing. Urban authorities must deal with the uncontrolled and unplanned movement of rural dwellers into the large urban centers, and the environmental "monster" it is creating: rampant urban waste, much of it toxic. Managing the Monster critically examines urban governance in Africa, with particular reference to the serious problems and challenges posed by waste management. It describes, compares, and appraises the situations in Abidjan, Dar es Salaam, Ibadan, and Johannesburg, characterizing typical forms of governance and their successes and failures in dealing with the critical problem of mounting urban waste. It will interest researchers, academics, and students in African studies and urban planning; donor organizations worldwide working on urban issues; policy makers, municipal engineers, city managers, and urban planners, especially in Africa; and environmental and civic NGOs.