<p>This study investigates the determinants of residents’ engagement in environmental sanitation programs in Akure, Nigeria. The primary aim is to analyze the factors influencing sanitation compliance and understanding, addressing the “Knowledge-Behavior Gap” in an urban environment where rapid growth has outpaced infrastructure. The methodology employed a quantitative approach, collecting data from 869 valid questionnaires (94.5% response rate). Analysis was conducted using SPSS, utilizing descriptive statistics for socio-demographic profiling and awareness assessment. To achieve the core objectives, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation was applied to reduce interrelated variables into meaningful components. Data suitability was confirmed via Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measures (0.768 to 0.918) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Findings from the PCA revealed distinct dimensions of resident engagement: two components explained 44.48% of the variance in residents’ perception of the sanitation period; five components explained 57.2% of the variance regarding the understanding and meaning of the exercise; and five components identified 57.142% of the variance regarding implementation constraints. These results highlight that engagement is determined by a complex interplay of socio-demographic characteristics and structural barriers. The study concludes that achieving urban sustainability requires addressing these identified principal components rather than relying on monolithic policy approaches. Policy recommendations include strengthening localized enforcement, enhancing community-based awareness strategies that move beyond basic knowledge to behavioral change, and addressing the specific implementation constraints identified through the factor extraction to ensure long-term program effectiveness in Akure.</p>