Assessment of Problems Associated with the Management of Public Infrastructure in Ondo West LGA, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the factors that militate against effective management of infrastructure is poor maintenance culture, as most infrastructural facilities deteriorate rapidly and are left to rot away within a very short number of years after their installation, thereby shortening their effective life span. This study examined the problems associated with the management of public infrastructures in Ondo West LGA with a view to proffering sustainable methods of managing infrastructures in Ondo State. Data for the study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. A total of 230 households were sampled. The data collection process involved field surveys and personal observations of the existing infrastructure in the study area. Both descriptive and inferential statistical tools were used in data analysis. Data were obtained based on the objectives and the hypothesis of the study through the use of a structured questionnaire. The finding revealed that educational infrastructure is the most prominent, cited by 36.5% of respondents, followed by electricity at 28.3%, while other infrastructures are inconsistently distributed. The majority of infrastructures, accounting for 36.1%, are located within a distance of 6-10 km from the respondents. The study concluded that there is a significant relationship between the management agencies and the associated problem of attitude, indicating that the nonchalant attitudes of both the agencies and the community towards maintenance play a crucial role in the declining service quality. The study recommends that there is a need to foster a stronger maintenance culture among both the management agencies and the community. Also, community engagement initiatives should be introduced to involve residents in the care and monitoring of public facilities.