Factors Influencing Maintenance of Public Residential Properties: A Case Study of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Building maintenance is an important program for ensuring the long-term viability of infrastructure construction. It is significant in building operations, among other things. This study aims at identifying the factors affecting public residential properties maintenance in Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi The research objectives include examining the types and existing condition of residential property in the study area. identifying the strategies adopted in the maintenance of residential property in the study area. assessing the factors affecting residential property maintenance in the study area. Both primary and secondary sources of data were employed as methods of data collection. A closed-ended questionnaire was administered to the Director of Physical Planning and Chairman of the Housing Committee of the institution and the household of the staff quarters, where 63 questionnaires out of 68 were retrieved. Statistical tools such as frequency distribution and percentages, means rating known as the quantitative method, were used as methods of data analysis. Systematic and stratified random sampling were used as methods of sampling. Maintenance of the properties requires attention at the highest level. This attention is of basic significance, and the objective must be to keep the property and its elements to an acceptable standard for the purpose of making them functional and reliable. Poor attitude of the occupant and management towards maintenance contributes to serious defects seen in the life span of the properties. Therefore, steps need to be taken or made by the management of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic to see that regular maintenance is taking place, which will be done either by the occupants or management through introducing manuals and regulations as guidelines on how it will be executed

Investment Performance of Local Government Shop Properties in Oke-Ogun Area, Oyo State, Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable Development

Local Government property seems to be among the least utilized and optimized resources, this is because the properties owned by the local government are perceived to be free items. The study examined the performance and the drivers of the performance of Local Government (LG) shop properties in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Nigeria, to provide information that could enhance the performance of public property for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8 - sustainable economic growth & SDG 11 - sustainable cities and communities). Primary data was used for the study which was collected from two groups of respondents (227 property occupiers and 16 property managers who are local government employees). The study adopted a multistage sampling procedure, and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study covers ten (10) years (2013-2022), encompassing both before and after the recession. The study revealed that the Local Government properties performed with a positive total rate of return of 0.64%, which could be better. It further found that the average rental value for the LG shop properties is N2,714 while the leading drivers of performance are income, occupiers\u27 satisfaction and service delivery. The study therefore recommends improved management of public properties due to low average rental value and low return on investment. This will affect the LG\u27s attempt to contribute her quota financially to reach UN SDGs 8 & 11. It also recommends that the Department of Estate and Valuation of each local government should employ professionally registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers for improved management of public properties and better performance for achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Relationship Between Tenant Characteristics and Lease Performance Indicators in Nigeria: A Case Study in Ibadan

This study examined the relationship between tenants’ characteristics and lease performance indicators in Ibadan, Nigeria. The Data for this study were obtained from the Estate Surveying and Valuation firms, and information on tenant characteristics was obtained from the tenant’s acquaintance forms in their portfolio. Out of the one hundred and five (105) Estate Surveying and Valuation firms surveyed, only 85 (80.9%) provided access to the required data for this study. The totality of cases identified (through the records of the Estate Surveying and Valuation firms) suitable for the analysis was one hundred and seventy (170) tenants, which accounted for tenants who were expected to have spent at least two years in their rented accommodation, representing 80.9% complete responses on information on the tenants. The data from the retrieved copies of the questionnaire were analysed using frequency distribution tables, factor analysis, weighted mean score and correlation analysis. Findings from the factor analysis revealed that affordability was the most significant criterion considered by property managers for tenant selection. Findings from the weighted mean score further revealed that affordability was seen as the most significant factor that measures lease performance in the study area, corroborating the findings of the factor analysis. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a strong positive correlation between tenants\u27 characteristics and lease performance. In ensuring the success of rental properties, this study emphasised the crucial role of a meticulous tenant selection process by highlighting tenant characteristics such as tenants\u27 financial capabilities, vetted personal information, solid references and guarantors, and demographic characteristics amongst others that are essential in the tenant selection process. The study recommended that property managers should keenly take into consideration the abovementioned tenant characteristics to ensure lease performance and, in turn, residential property investment performance to ensure the investors meet their investment objectives

Factors Influencing Compliance with Physical Planning Regulations in Gated Communities of Ibadan Municipality, Nigeria

Recently, there has been an upsurge in problems of non-compliances with physical planning regulations in gated communities in Ibadan. This study examines factors influencing compliance with physical planning regulations in gated communities of Ibadan Municipality, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed in selecting 268 buildings from 23 gated communities in the five (5) local government areas (LGAs) of Ibadan Municipality. Findings revealed that effectiveness of administrative practice was the highest predictor of residents’ compliance with physical planning regulations in the study area. Next to this is the residents’ socioeconomic characteristics as a significant relationship was established between marital status (χ2 = 0.630; p ≤ 0.05), residents’ income (F = 2.286; p = 0.104 < 0.05) and level of awareness of development control regulations. The study concluded that different factors influence residents’ compliance with development control regulations at varying degrees. Therefore, there is the need to enhance these factors to positively improve residents’ level of awareness of development control regulations and further influence their compliance with planning regulations in the study area

Study on the Design Quality Indicators for Building Evaluation of Taiwan Campus

Campus buildings play a crucial role in education. Designing campus buildings in Taiwan to meet high-quality standards is crucial due to the frequent seismic activity and the evolving requirements of modern education. Architects often rely on past experiences and regulations, which may only partially meet user needs, leading to suboptimal designs. This study examines the application of the Design Quality Indicator (DQI) framework to evaluate and enhance the design quality of campus buildings. We reviewed literature and cases to compile suitable DQI metrics, and then conducted the survey to assess various dimensions, including functionality, build quality, and impact. We also collaborated with property management experts to evaluate 60 campus buildings. The results indicate that teaching and dormitory buildings generally achieve higher levels of user satisfaction and operational efficiency. Conversely, administrative buildings show deficiencies in accessibility and innovation. Key issues identified include inadequate indoor environmental quality and insufficient adaptability to future needs. Recommendations for improvement focus on addressing these low-scoring areas through better design integration, flexible layouts, and sustainable technologies. This study highlights the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation in the design of campus buildings to meet the evolving requirements of the educational sector and ensure safety in earthquake-prone regions. Future research could explore the performance of buildings post-occupancy evaluation to assess the potential of incorporating DQI early in the design process, providing valuable insights for the field

Mortgage Financing and Affordable Housing Nexus: Evidence from Developing Countries

The study investigated the relationship between mortgage financing and affordable housing in Kumasi, Ghana. It explores how mortgage financing influences affordable housing supply. It identified 23 banking institutions of which 11 of them are into mortgage financing. Adopting the exploratory sequential mixed method research design, the study selected banks households and, realtors as respondents using both purposive and accidental sampling techniques. The study found that, in Kumasi and Ghana, housing is affordable on paper but very expensive on the ground as none of the houses supplied on affordable housing projects are affordable to middle- and low-income earners. The study acknowledged that the high level of LtVR has made mortgage financing very expensive to ordinary Ghanaians and such calls for government-insured mortgages to make housing supply less expensive. It found that the ANOVA results from a regression analysis with a multiple R of 0.240 and R square of 0.058 shows that only 5.8% of the total mortgage lending rates are influenced by the interest rate pegged by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and hence there is a very weak relationship between interest rate and mortgage lending rate in Ghana. The study concludes based on the findings that in Kumasi and Ghana, housing units that are supplied using mortgage financing by the government realtors are more expensive than those built by private estate developers with or without mortgages. Hence a complete reform of the mortgage policy to include government-insured mortgages to make the secondary mortgage market attractive was recommended

Assessment of Construction Practitioners’ Knowledge Sharing Attitude in Construction Projects in Nigeria

Individuals such as construction practitioners (CPs) are the focal point of knowledge sharing (KS). KS plays a cardinal role in knowledge management (KM). It is recognised as one of the most crucial aspect of KM which leads to better performance of organisations and construction projects. Literature has shown that KS success is largely driven by individual level variables such as attitude. Studies on KS largely neglect the individual level variables, e.g. perception, motivation and attitude. Hence, there is a lack of knowledge on the influence of the determinants of attitude on construction practitioners’ (CPs’) KS attitude. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the influence of the determinants of attitude on CPs\u27 KS attitude in construction projects with a view to improving knowledge sharing among CPs. The determinants of KS attitude and their components were identified from literature and were used to conduct a survey to assess the CPs\u27 KS attitude. Quantitative method was adopted for this research and the data were collected using structured questionnaire administered to 174 Construction practitioners using Stratified Random Sampling. Data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The study identified six determinants of KS attitude with four independent (perceiver, target, intensity and persistence) and two dependents (cognitive and affective). It was found out that the CPs perceiver, target, intensity and persistence as determinants of KS has influence on KS attitude. The study also found a high significant influence between measures of CPs’ motivation (intensity & persistence) KS attitude compared to measures of their perception (perceiver & target) and the strongest influence is between CPs intensity and their cognitive. The study concludes that CP’s as the perceivers and KS as what is been perceived (target) do not affect CPs  knowledge sharing attitude, instead intensity and persistence (motivation) does. This study recommends that CPs should be educated about their perception of KS. The study  recommends that construction practitioners level of motivation should be increased because motivation is what derives them to share knowledge rather than perception

Modular Housing: Is it a Catholicon for the Housing Stock Deficit in Lagos, Nigeria?

Modular homes appear to be a promising housing option that keeps pace with the rapid rate of urbanisation, especially in growing cities like Lagos. Consequently, this study investigates how professionals in the built environment perceive modular homes, with an emphasis on how they could be a potential solution to the deficit of housing in Lagos State, Nigeria. The primary goals are to navigate the multifaceted aspects of modular housing, examine its merits, identify barriers to its adoption, and gauge its feasibility in the Nigerian context. To achieve these, 200 questionnaires were disseminated among professionals in the built environment in Lagos, and 147 (73.5%) were returned. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Key findings revealed that modular housing, due to its rapid construction timelines, is a time-efficient solution. However, concerns about initial investment costs and design flexibility emerged as potential barriers to adoption. There is also a clear acknowledgement of the environmental benefits of modular housing, with reduced construction waste indicating its sustainability. Factor analysis is pivotal for revealing deeper insights. For instance, respondents’ lack of in-depth knowledge about modular housing was a primary barrier, accounting for 62.67% of the variance. Similarly, advocacy for modular housing was seen as a significant strategy for its adoption, with 52.38% variability. However, challenges remain. A predominant belief among respondents is that modular homes might be inferior in quality to homes built using traditional construction methods. Furthermore, bureaucratic hurdles in obtaining permits could deter investors and developers from undertaking modular housing projects. In conclusion, although modular housing offers a beacon of hope for solving mass housing problems in burgeoning cities like Lagos, clear challenges remain. This study recommends more vigorous advocacy efforts, targeted government intervention, and robust public-private partnerships

Strategic Pathways to Sustainable Development: A Comprehensive Review of the Benefits and Barriers of Green Buildings

As environmental concerns grow globally, green building practices have become essential in promoting sustainable development. This paper provides a comprehensive review aimed at evaluating the multifaceted benefits, barriers, and strategic pathways related to the implementation of green buildings. The study employs a systematic literature review, analysing 90 significant studies from databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, to assess the economic, environmental, and social impacts of green building practices. The results highlight that green buildings offer substantial benefits, including reduced energy consumption, improved indoor air quality, enhanced occupant health and productivity, and long-term cost savings. Despite these advantages, the widespread adoption of green building practices faces considerable challenges, notably high initial construction costs, regulatory obstacles, and limited awareness among stakeholders. Furthermore, the study identifies significant gaps in the existing literature concerning the regional and contextual variations in the effectiveness of green building strategies. The implications of this research are crucial for policymakers, developers, and industry professionals who are working towards sustainable urban development. The findings suggest that overcoming the identified barriers requires coordinated efforts, including the implementation of supportive policies, financial incentives, and extensive public education campaigns. By addressing these challenges, green buildings can play a pivotal role in achieving global sustainability goals and fostering resilient, eco-friendly urban environments

The Influence of Land Scarcity on Funeral Method Preferences in the Chinese Community

Chinese public cemeteries in Malaysia, also known as "Yishan," are dedicated burial sites specifically used by the Chinese community for the interment of their deceased loved ones. These cemeteries adhere to Chinese cultural and religious practices related to ancestor veneration and the afterlife. The cemetery land is mostly provided by the local government, and the local association is responsible for managing the cemetery. Since the Yishan located in the city are already nearing saturation, the government cannot afford to allocate land for new Yishan to the relevant guild members, making many Yishan difficult to find. Additionally, Chinese graves occupy more land than those of other races due to the burial practices. Consequently, the Chinese community faces a shortage of burial land, often having to resort to more expensive private cemeteries. This paper is based on a proposal by the Selangor senior exco member, Datuk Teng Chang Khim, to address the issue of land scarcity for Chinese burials. Teng expressed the Malaysia Funeral Association\u27s intention to promote flower burial in Malaysia, a method that uses less land, to alleviate this problem. Therefore, this research aims to identify the funeral methods preferred by the Chinese community and determine their preferences for these methods. In this study, quantitative analysis was adopted to collect data. Central Malacca was chosen as the research location because it is one of the states in Malaysia with a large Chinese population and may face cemetery land scarcity. A total of 384 respondents were needed for this analysis. The results indicate a high preference for flower burial among the respondents. Other methods, such as sea burial and ice burial, also showed satisfactory preference levels. Thus, this research provides insight to the Malaysia Funeral Association that the Chinese community in Malacca is interested in and prefers alternative funeral methods, such as flower burial, which could help address the issue of land scarcity for cemeteries in the future