Evaluation of Building Condition and Maintenance as a Panacea for Preventing Building Collapse in Nigeria: The Case for Correctional Buildings

Abstract

Buildings are constructed with the aim of lasting for a certain duration of time while achieving other ancillary benefits, such as functionality, aesthetics, affordability, comfort, and pleasure for the occupants. Over the years, correctional facilities and other buildings have become derelict within some period of construction due to a lack of adequate maintenance, which resulted in dilapidation and probably collapse. This paper evaluated the building condition and maintenance of correctional facilities. The objective is to reduce incessant building collapse in Nigeria. A survey approach was adopted in the collection of data from the relevant Niger State prison staff population of 120 workers, including staff in the maintenance unit, within a specific period. A stratified sampling technique was used to generate a sample that was used to collect data representing the entire population across the prisons. The results from the study identified poor maintenance of correctional facilities which could cause building deterioration and which could eventually pave way for the building to collapse. The study suggests continuous evaluation of maintained correctional facilities to ascertain their condition and performance levels.