CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Infrastructure is a strategic economic growth driver. It serves as a catalyst for public development in the entire government agenda, such as healthcare delivery, transportation, education and food security. Infrastructure level affects the development rating of a nation. Infrastructure contribute to the score of Nigeria’s economic growth. Nwachukwu and Ewoh (2011) explain that the investment attraction of building development by the public sector is strategic to all areas of the economy. Government expenditure on Infrastructure is enormous because it is capital intensive.
Infrastructure expenditure grow the economy because it affects most human endeavors in various field of life such as production, construction, technology, and procurement. Government spending on infrastructures in Nigeria seems to be a waste of scarce resources and to the detriment of taxpayers because the growth in the economy does not physically depict infrastructural development. Government continues to increase spending on infrastructure with a view to ease the burden of citizens. Specifically, efficient transportation and communication should be available, people should enjoy basic healthcare delivery with minimal effort and there should be food security. But, ironically, this is not the case. Nigeria has witnessed infrastructural transformation in terms of building of schools, roads and telecommunications facilities. In recent years, the state of the country’s infrastructure is still a far cry from what is expected when compared to other economies of the world. Infrastructure is important for faster economic growth and alleviation of poverty in the country. Adequate Infrastructure in the form of roads, railway, ports, schools, power, airport and their efficient working is necessary for the integration of Nigerian economy with other economies of the world. It is important to note that infrastructure cannot be made through import, because location based the need for relevant infrastructural facility be met through development of capacity in the domestic economy. For example, power facility, roads, schools, ports, or railway cannot be imported, they have to be built in the domestic economy. Due to the significant economies of scale found in many infrastructural services, they have the potential to generate money. It needs to be emphasize that good quality infrastructure is not only important for faster economic growth but also ensure inclusive growth. By inclusive growth, it means that majority of the people of a country shares benefits of growth. Thus, the inclusive growth will lead to alleviation of poverty and reduction in income inequality in Nigeria. Over the years, Nigeria have had a number of laudable projects that makes one proud of being a Nigerian. These projects Include library, universities, hospitals, schools amongst others. But having been built and made to serve the purpose they were meant to serve, they were abandoned and at best given less attention leading to poor maintenance and management. Most of the laudable projects in Nigeria are in the most deplorable state which constitute threat to social, economic and Infrastructural advancement of Nigeria. This is with regard to the issue of maintenance of public facilities and capital project.
Public infrastructure are built to fulfill administrative, social as well as economic responsibilities to the general public. Government assets and facilities should be managed properly with Maintenance work to ensure the functionality, minimum cost of repair and provide a safe environment for the users. Maintenance culture defines the values, way of thinking, behavior, perception of a person, group or society that considers maintenance as an important matter and practices it in their life. When a person or group has maintenance culture, they would have the attitude to maintain, preserve and protect public facilities. A skillful design can reduce the amount of maintenance work and also make it easier to perform, since maintenance begins on the drawing board. It is at the design stage that the maintenance can be influenced for better or worse. Where the designer fail to make adequate consideration for minimizing maintenance problems, it always turn out to be a big problem when the building is eventually occupied for use. The declining maintenance culture in Nigeria and the effect it has on public infrastructure have become a big problem to the government at various levels. This study examine ways of improving maintenance culture and its effect on the quality of public infrastructure.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Infrastructural development is a key driver for progress and a critical enabler of productivity and economic growth. Good infrastructure contribute significantly to human development, poverty reduction and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The poor infrastructural situation of Nigeria has succeeded in having a very severe effect on the lives of Nigerians. The Perennial electricity shortage, housing problems, terrible road, are making Nigerian state unlivable. The rising population in Nigeria is a huge strain on the Nigeria’s failing infrastructures. It is important to note that without infrastructure enterprise and movement cannot happen. The critical infrastructural gap cut across all sectors of the economy, with the most glaring includes transport, power, education, agriculture and telecommunication.
Increase maintenance and capacity expansion are needed to improve the current state of Nigeria’s infrastructure. infrastructure is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, it is at the core of good governance and public welfare. Any improvement in infrastructure positively impact the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, (GDP). The current maintenance level is insufficient to preserve the quality of the existing infrastructures resulting in annual deterioration. Ample resources have been allocated for rehabilitation, but not enough of these resources is reserved for maintenance. A historical trend of prioritizing New infrastructure over maintaining existing ones further exacerbate deterioration of existing infrastructure. Public infrastructure in Nigeria is bedeviled by poor maintenance culture.
It is important to note that, Nigerian public do not own public infrastructures. They generally see public property as nobody’s property. Hence, they do not attach care when using public utilities, this mentality of most Nigerians constitute a problem to maintenance culture in Nigeria. Also, most public Infrastructures are constructed and commissioned without any blueprint on how they should be maintained.
Maintenance culture is an attitude that is lacking in Nigeria. Poor maintenance culture has become a widely recognized problem in Nigeria which has adversely affected the quality of public properties. Most public infrastructure in Nigeria, are in deplorable state, ranging from roads, schools, hospitals, libraries amongst others. The deplorable state of public infrastructure in Nigeria makes it imperative for proper and routine maintenance to be carried out in order to save our infrastructure from total collapse, and to ensure the continuous functioning and use of public infrastructure.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the level of maintenance culture in Nigeria and how it impacts on public infrastructure, a case study of Akwa Ibom State
The specific objectives are to:
examine the perception of citizens towards public infrastructure;
examine if there is a management blueprint for all public infrastructure; and
identify the effect of public infrastructure on the economy;
Research Questions
In order to achieve the stated objectives, the researcher formulated the following research questions:
What is the perception of citizens towards public infrastructure?
Is there any management blueprint for public infrastructure?
What is the effect of public infrastructure on the economy?.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were formulated in line with the objectives and research questions of the study.
H0: There is no significant relationship between the perception of citizens and public infrastructure.
H0: There is no significant relationship between management and public infrastructure.
H0: Public infrastructure tend to have no effect on the economy.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study has both theoretical and empirical significance. Theoretically, this study will add to the existing body of knowledge on how to improve maintenance culture with regard to public infrastructure at the federal, state, and local levels .This study will educate Nigerians on the need to imbibe maintenance culture in order to preserve our infrastructures. It will no doubt be of immense importance to students and researchers who wish to embark on similar study.
Empirically, this study will produce data which will enhance the understanding of the major factors that are responsible for poor maintenance culture and the best strategies to be used in tackling them. This work also serve as a working document to the government of the day in the making and implementation of laws and policies that will improve the state of public infrastructure.1.7 Scope and Limitation of the Study.
The scope of this study is restricted to Akwa Ibom State. Hence, the generalization of the findings of this study is valid and restricted to the area where the study is carried out.
During the course of the study, the researcher was constrained by financial resources, which limited thesuccess of this study. Also, the time frame which the researcher is expected to complete this work was inadequate. Finally, the hostile behavior of some respondents hampered the smooth running of this study.
However, through the support of family members who provided financial resources, the researcher was able to carry out this study. Also, the researcher suspended some engagements in order to have time for this study. Finally, through patience and understanding the challenge pose by hostile respondent was overcome.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The definition used in this study are operational definition.
Maintenance: Actions performed to keep some machine or system functioning or in service.
Culture: The arts, customs, and habits that characterize a particular society.
Public: Open to all members of a community, especially provided by national or local authorities and supported by money from taxes.
Infrastructure: The basic facilities, services and installations needed for the functioning of a community or society.
Public infrastructure: Public infrastructure are infrastructures provided by the government for public use.
