Investigation of Infrastructural Maintenance in Public Institutions in Nigeria

Chigozie Collins Okafor, Clinton Aigbavboa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Maintenance is the act of protecting an infrastructure from decay or dilapidation so that it will continue to remain new, retain its economic importance and durability which will make the infrastructure more sustainable. When an infrastructure is sustainable it benefits and serves the present generation without denying the future generation its own benefits. This study was conducted between 2016 and 2018 to investigate the level of infrastructural maintenance in public institutions in Nigeria using the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, as a case study. From the field investigation conducted during this study, it was observed that the university rely more on corrective maintenance which involves conducting maintenance when the infrastructure is already damaged rather than implementing preventive maintenance which involves conducting maintenance to prevent unseen damages which may occur. It was also observed from the field investigation that one of the major problems of maintenance in government-owned institutions is lack funding for infrastructural maintenance. In this study, it was observed that offices and classrooms in the ten faculties housed by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, needed over 40% maintenance work on their walls, floor, roof, paint, window, toilet, electrical installations and doors. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science had the most maintenance problem in both the offices and classrooms. It was recommended that a holistic maintenance model should be followed in line with international best practices in advanced countries. The university should develop and follow a preventive maintenance policy by employing the services of a good maintenance/management firm to maintain and manage the university infrastructures, while the works services department serves a supervisory body. In line with the trending fourth industrial revolution, it is recommended that the University should introduce the use of one-stop shop maintenance services using information and communication technology (ICT). Special soft wares should be developed which can be used to keep records of building projects starting from the design, as-built, till the end of the project, this can help to identify maintenance problems easily.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Science, Technology and Innovation
PublisherSpringer Nature
Pages361-365
Number of pages5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameAdvances in Science, Technology and Innovation
ISSN (Print)2522-8714
ISSN (Electronic)2522-8722

Keywords

  • Infrastructure
  • Institutions
  • Investigation
  • Maintenance
  • Public

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Architecture
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Environmental Chemistry

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