Assessing Sustainable Asset Management in Lagos State Housing Corporation Estate Management Practices

Thesis Abstract

This study examines whether Lagos State Housing Corporation (LSHC) employs sustainable asset management (SAM) practices in its estate management and how these practices influence asset performance, occupants’ satisfaction, and long-term value preservation amid urban growth pressures. The problem addressed is the apparent mismatch between asset lifecycles, funding constraints, and environmental and social sustainability requirements within public housing estates, which threatens long-term service delivery and asset condition. The aim is to evaluate current SAM practices, identify gaps, and propose a framework for integrating sustainability into asset management across LSHC estates. Specific objectives include (i) mapping existing asset management policies, processes, and performance indicators used by LSHC; (ii) assessing the adoption level of sustainability principles in maintenance planning, procurement, and asset renewal; (iii) examining relationships between SAM practices and estate performance metrics (asset condition index, maintenance response times, energy efficiency, and occupant satisfaction); (iv) identifying barriers and enablers to SAM implementation within the public housing sector; and (v) proposing a context-specific SAM framework aligned with international best practices and local regulatory requirements. The research adopts a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. The population comprises all functional assets and estate management staff of the Lagos State Housing Corporation, including facilities managers, estate supervisors, financial controllers, and tenancy officers, with estate residents forming the second strata for satisfaction data. A stratified random sample of 240 assets (estates) and 180 staff members will be selected, complemented by 400 resident respondents using systematic sampling to ensure representation across urban zoning and estate sizes. Data collection instruments include a structured asset management survey for staff, in-depth interviews with senior estate managers to capture policy and process nuance, and a resident satisfaction questionnaire focusing on service delivery and perceived sustainability. Document analysis will review LSHC maintenance logs, annual capital expenditure reports, and energy consumption records for three consecutive fiscal years. Validity and reliability will be established through pilot testing, Cronbach’s alpha checks for multi-item scales (target >0.70), and triangulation across data sources. The analytical framework integrates descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling to test relationships between SAM practices and performance outcomes, complemented by thematic analysis of interview transcripts to extract contextual factors. Model specification will include an asset condition index as the dependent variable and SAM practice variables (policy maturity, preventive maintenance intensity, lifecycle cost management, energy efficiency investments, and procurement sustainability) as independent variables. Hypothesis testing will employ multiple regression and, where appropriate, ANOVA to compare performance across estate categories. Causal inferences will be interpreted with caution due to the cross-sectional design, and robustness will be checked via sensitivity analyses. The study will be guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Institutional Theory to explain how organizational capabilities and regulatory environments influence SAM adoption in public housing. Expected findings anticipate (i) partial alignment of LSHC practices with SAM principles, with gaps in preventive maintenance, lifecycle cost reporting, and energy performance contracting; (ii) positive associations between higher SAM maturity scores and improved asset condition, reduced maintenance backlogs, and higher resident satisfaction; (iii) significant barriers including budget rigidity, data fragmentation, and limited in-house expertise, alongside enablers such as leadership commitment, inter-departmental coordination, and partnerships for sustainable procurement. The study’s contribution to knowledge lies in developing a context-specific SAM framework tailored to Lagos public housing, bridging the gap between theoretical sustainability asset management and practical implementation in a high-density developing city. It will extend SAM literature by providing empirical evidence from a large, politically and financially constrained public housing system and by integrating RBV and Institutional Theory to explain capability development and regulatory alignment. The study concludes with actionable recommendations (i) adopt a formal SAM policy aligned with ISO 55000 principles; (ii) implement a centralized data platform integrating asset registers, maintenance histories, and energy usage; (iii) incentivize preventive maintenance through lifecycle cost accounting and performance-based budgeting; (iv) incorporate green procurement and energy-efficient upgrades into capital plans; and (v) establish governance mechanisms and capacity-building programs for estate staff, including resident engagement to sustain demand-driven improvements.