Minimizing Building Collapse: The Case for Maintenance of Students' Hostel Accommodation in Higher Institutions of Learning in Nigeria

Abstract

Building collapse is a typical occurrence throughout the world, but in Nigeria in particular it is more frequent and the results are more terrible. Building maintenance has been largely ignored up until recently, as was demonstrated by a bad situation and confirmed by the upkeep of student housing facilities. The factors affecting the maintenance of student residences in Nigeria are evaluated in this study. The objective is to assess the hostel buildings' operational maintenance condition (physical and functional condition) and to suggest ways to reduce the frequency of building collapses in Nigeria by improving building maintenance. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine data obtained from questionnaires given to hostel residents, students, and maintenance management personnel about their opinions of the present maintenance status of the hostels. The results demonstrate that timely and suitable maintenance management practises would maintain the current student hostel structure and avoid the building's probable collapse owing to sporadic disregard for maintenance management policy.