FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IN LAGOS NIGERIAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Housing provision is very important to provide adequate shelter for people, who are living now and the coming generation. Hence, there is need for maintenance of the existing stocks for sustainable housing development. The purpose of this study is to assess the management system adopted for managing facilities in the public housing estates in Lagos and the effect on sustainable housing provision. Both Iba and Ojokoro Housing Estateswerechosen among the public housing estates built in early 1980. Systematic random sampling was adopted tosample 50.8% of the 199 and 45 blocks of flats in Iba and Ojokoro respectively, which accounted for 244 blocks. It was from these blocks of flats 122respondents were sampled, one from each block, using convenience sampling method. Inspection and questionnaire surveys were carried out to collect data. The study found that the maintenance and management system adopted for the two housing estates has not enhanced sustainable housing development. This reflected in the condition of the sampled buildings, which posed a number of challenges to the residents. The poor maintenance has been attributed to the use of unqualified personnel, unethical adjustment into buildings, poor housing management system and maintenance, and age of buildings. It was in view of this the study suggests a central ly coordinated approach to housing management, instead of full decentralization, where each household handled maintenance of the flat occupied. This method will prevent the use of unqualified personnel and ensure regular maintenance of the residential buil dings for sustainable housing development.